Student mental health and wellbeing are often not prioritised enough within schools across the UK. However, an easy way for teachers to support young people during stressful periods such as exam season, is by encouraging sport participation during downtime.
As someone who runs regularly and spends a lot of time working out, I can vouch for the mental health benefits of exercise. Getting out of the door in the first place can feel like a struggle, but the rewards: feeling refreshed, resilient and strong – often referred to as “Runners High” – makes all the hard work worth it!
Some may say it’s a placebo, but the science backing up the positive link between physical activity and mental health speaks for itself. “Exercise has an effect on certain chemicals in the brain, like dopamine and serotonin. Brain cells use these chemicals to communicate with each other, so they affect your mood and thinking in a positive way.”
Recently, there has been more and more research about the importance of movement and its effects on the brain. Research produced by Edge Hill University on behalf of Sport England found a consistent picture emerged of the effectiveness of different types of exercise in treating and managing young people’s mental health conditions.
Exam season can be an extremely strenuous time for a young person’s mental health, causing an emotional and intellectual drain on the mind. This can sometimes lead to on-going mental health conditions, such as increased stress levels, anxiety, and even depression.
So, what can you do to minimise this effect, and make stressful school moments as smooth sailing as possible?
As found by the Mental Health Foundation “regular physical activity can reduce your risk of depression by 30%.” If you try encouraging your students to take part in sports from the beginning of their journey, you can help them to minimise the chances of developing these unfortunate conditions all together.
Team based activities are a great way for your students to spend their free time during tough periods. Taking part in team sports can offer numerous health benefits, including reduced stress levels, improved mood and enhanced social skills. Whether it’s investing in some football goals and balls for a sunny day, or indoor table tennis tables for a doubles tournament on a rainy one, team play is a great way to boost positive mental wellbeing.
Although some students may thrive during group activities, it’s important you consider those who find exercising by themselves more therapeutic. The close second as the best sport to benefit mental health is any form of aerobic exercise to get your heartrate going (cardiovascular conditioning or “cardio). This can be done alone or in a group.
As mentioned previously, from my own experience, I can list multiple benefits of running to boost mental positivity. I would recommend it to anyone looking to de-stress after a hard day, or to bring some calm to your mind at your lunch break, ready for a productive afternoon. At Sportsafe, we frequently see schools investing in a Daily Mile Track in an effort to give their pupils an independent and individual method of adding positive moments into their break times.
Maybe you could also try creating a challenge to keep them motivated – such as completing a certain number of miles per week for a reward. They won’t even realise the positive impacts they are having on their own mental health! This is a great way for students to switch off from the hustle and bustle in the classroom and gets them in the fresh air…another proven way to clear the mind.
All this high energy exercise has numerous benefits for mental health, but slowing down and taking a moment to really relax is also an essential. Incorporating yoga into physical education lessons can assist in improved sleep and mental clarity, reduced stress levels and improves strength.
Why not purchase a set of yoga mats to bring some calm to your classroom? It could be a game changer during exam season…
It’s important your students rest after completing exams; brains have been working hard, and sitting in one place (for hours, sometimes) which can cause strain on the body. Try holding fun, de-stress sessions in your sports hall after exams. Teach a Dance class, find a Zumba workout online, or simply just encourage any form of movement. Allow your students to let their hair down and prioritise clearing their minds to forget about exams for a moment after leaving the hall.
It has been proven that sport and exercise have positive impacts not only on physical health, but on mental health too. The small changes suggested in this article can make a huge impact on students during exam season – and at times when school can just generally get a bit too stressful! Try incorporating these tips into your school routine to de-stress, relax and clear minds for a more productive and happy school experience – for both students and teachers.
