A Fit Body Means A Fit Mind by Victoria

A Fit Body Means A Fit Mind by Victoria - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

A fit body means a fit mind. A resolution is defined as “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” My New Year’s resolution is to focus on myself. Exercise more. Eat healthier. Stress less. Meditate. Concentrate on me. Be a better student. To push through whatever life throws at me.
Physical activity can have an impact on cognitive skills, attitudes, and academic behavior. It enhances concentration, attention, memory retention, and learning functions. More time in physical education leads to improved grades and standardized test scores. Exercise pumps more blood throughout the body and releases endorphins. More blood means more oxygen which leads to better-nourished brain tissue.
To follow through with anything and stick to it has always been a struggle for me. I quit when it gets too hard or get bored and leave it behind. This year, I am sticking to it. I am challenging myself, setting new habits. In order to follow and accomplish my resolution, I have set up a plan or steps to keep me in check: Set attainable goals, Make it public, Set milestone markers, Don't get ahead of yourself, and Live life to the fullest.
My goal is to get fit, mentally and physically. In order to make it an attainable goal, I made it specific. I want to go to the gym at least 5 times a week. I also want to go to bed earlier in order to get 8 hours of sleep. Finally, I made myself a weekly schedule, making sure to write down when it is time to exercise, do homework or have alone time. I have made it a goal to follow this schedule for the rest of the year. I have made these goals public by telling all my friends and family. Telling people and sharing resolutions helps me stay accountable while also creating a support network. By setting milestone markers, I am working towards something. It gives me the drive to go on and continue. An example of this is that I am starting off by going to the gym twice a week and building up my habit from there. Sometimes I tend to overthink things and get ahead of myself, putting myself down when I slip up. If I do fail, I analyze the situations and figure out what it was that made me stray away from my goal. I make sure to note it and stay away from it. I keep trying until I reach my goal. Perseverance is the key to success. Living life to the fullest is a way to mentally feel happiness and success. For me, it is all about living the moment and thinking later. I try not to worry too much about what others think of me and just focus on what I think of myself. I fix what I think needs improvement within myself. That is really what my resolution is all about.
I am only 2 weeks into my New Year’s resolution but I already feel like a better version of myself. I have found that my concentration and participation in classes has increased along with my grades. I have felt enlightened and empowered to challenge myself. I am taking on new and different tasks I would have never thought of doing, pushing my comfort zone. Getting fit on all levels has made me lose a lot of things. I have lost weight, but more importantly, I have lost the stress, anxiety, and overthinking that would push me back before. With everything I have lost, the most important thing that I have gained is a sense of pride in myself.