Students are proving discipline beats motivation when it comes to staying fit

Every year, problem with movement is getting worse, sitting in front of screens or busy schedules aren’t helping this situation with lack of movement at all. 

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn’t always easy, especially for high-school students juggling school, sports, and social life. It can affect our everyday life in many ways. Finding the time and energy to stay active can be a real challenge. 

In a recent survey, students from a Burnaby school were asked what they find most challenging about trying to get enough exercise. Some of students answered that they can’t stay consistent and that procrastinate. Most of the students answered that they don’t have enough motivation because of fatigue or lack of free time because of busy schedules.  

But even when students have problems with procrastination or lack of time, they usually find way to play their sports. Only 26% of students in who responded to this survey don’t play any sports. The majority of students play either soccer or hockey. 

One student described how it can be difficult to return to physical activity after setbacks. “I’ve gotten a lot of injuries in the last couple of months, so I got lazy and started gaining weight,” he wrote. “Now I have trouble getting back in shape because I don’t have enough time.” 

Another concern is hydration. The survey shows that 45% of asked students only drink from 2-3 liters of water per day, which is almost one liter less than recommended. Only 15% meet the suggested 3.5-4.0 liters.  

Proper hydration is crucial for both physical performance and overall health, experts say. “As students drink more water, they have more energy, they are happier overall not only in sports,” said one Burnaby Physical Education teacher. “As our body starts missing water, we get lazier, tired and even angry because our body tries to find a solution how to get water in the body.”  

Despite these challenges, students are making an effort to stay fit. Half of those surveyed work out 3-4 days a week, while 35% exercise 5-6 days weekly. 

These statistics are impressive. Still, obesity remains a serious problem in Canada. In 2021, 30% of Canadian adults were classified as obese. An additional 35% had been classified as overweight. 

This problem drastically worsened because of the Covid-19 pandemic that kept us home for two years. Before the pandemic, only 25% of Canadians were overweight or -obese. 

It is well-known that exercise also improves mental health. Students told us that working out at the gym, running or even going for a walk helps them with mental problems. One student said, “When I’m alone on a walk with my dog I feel peace, I can think about my problems and most of the times I find out solutions for these problems.”  

Another student said, “As I am working out at the gym I feel healthy, full of energy and as I leave the gym I feel like the new person because I did something for my health and over time I will start looking as I want so it’s win-win situation.” 

Motivation and discipline are key to maintaining fitness. One of the students said, “Even when I am lazy and I am procrastinating I always think about my dream physique and that pushes me forward.”  Other student agreed and said, “I don’t procrastinate working out and running is my everyday activity that I look forward to, so I don’t need motivation because I have discipline.”  

“I started noticing the problem of lack of exercise and I started to feel uncomfortable in my own body by not doing enough exercise. And I thought that solution to this problem is to go out with my friends and play whatever sport I want. But most of my friends just don’t want to do any physical activity outside,” One Canadian student said. But he went on to say that even if his friends don’t come through, he won’t let that stop him. 

“This led me to started to go out alone,” he told 8forty. “I slowly made new friends by playing sports with them.” 

“With every step forward Canadian students are maintaining physical and mental health and doing the best thing for their body and that is to do sports and move,” one of the Burnaby Physical Education teachers said. 

Cover Image: Pexels