You already know about the benefits of exercise to overall health; adequate exercise is widely acknowledged to help prevent any number of physical maladies including heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
You probably also know that regular exercise improves cognition, memory, and focus. Several studies in recent years have shown that sustained exercise promotes the creation of new brain cells. Even moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, promotes a healthy and nimble mind.
But did you know that exercising just before an exam can also boost your performance on the exam? It's true—in addition to the overall benefits of exercise, studies have found that mental performance is increased during exercise and, more importantly, continues at that higher level for a few hours afterward. In recent tests, cognition in adults and children alike was improved by 5 to 10 percent in the hours immediately following exercise. It appears that exercise instantly boosts the amounts of glucose and oxygen supplied to the brain, two of the basic elements that fuel mental function and support decision making and problem solving.
What does this mean for you? If you're preparing to take the real estate exam, you should try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise shortly before your exam. If you can't manage a full gym workout beforehand, try to arrive at the real estate test site 45 minutes early and take a brisk 30-minute walk before you go in.
Also, remember to get plenty of sleep the night before your real estate exam; as we've already discussed, sleep is just as crucial as exercise for high exam scores.
