How To Balance Studying and Exercise During NCLEX Prep

Preparing for the NCLEX or other exams is a serious commitment. During this stressful and busy time, other things in your life tend to fall off the schedule.

And one of those things is exercise. So let’s explore how you can realistically integrate exercise into your daily routine, as well as why exercise can be beneficial during this time.

If you’re deep into exams, squeezing in a workout might feel like a luxury you can’t afford.

Especially as time is so valuable during this time. But the truth is, balancing study and exercise doesn’t just benefit your physical health, it can sharpen your mind, reduce stress and actually improve how you study.

So, whether you’re aiming for a career in nursing or comparing options like paramedic vs nurse salary to decide your path, staying healthy and focused is essential.

Why fitness helps you study better

Exercise isn’t just about building strength or losing weight. It’s a tool for cognitive performance and emotional resilience. Research shows that regular physical activity improves:

• Memory and information retention.
• Concentration and mental clarity.
• Stress and anxiety relief.
• Boosting your energy and sleep quality.
• Your mood thanks to an increase in dopamine and serotonin levels.

Even a short walk, a few yoga stretches or a 20-minute workout can recharge your brain and help you focus better than another hour of tired cramming. Working out isn’t wasted time, it’s smarter time.

Barriers students face and how to beat them 

Balancing exercise and studying isn’t always easy. But most of the time, struggles have simple and realistic solutions. For example: 

“I don’t have time” 

• Break workouts into short sessions (10-15 minutes).
• Try stacking habits, for example squat while watching review videos.
• Walking during breaks or while listening to audio ‘flashcards’.

“I feel guilty taking breaks” 

• Your productivity increases with breaks.
• Mental fatigue sets in faster without movement.

“I’m too tired”

• Start the day with light stretching or a quick warm-up.
• Exercise boosts energy, it won’t deplete it if you keep it moderate. 

There are ways around all of these excuses. You just need to adapt your schedule slightly. 

A balanced sample routine 

Creating a daily rhythm is essential when it comes to staying consistent. You can easily create a weekday routine that supports both learning and movement. 

A routine that includes test prep and exercise could look like: 

• 8:00 AM: Wake up and 10-minute stretch or yoga.
• 8:30 AM: Healthy breakfast.
• 9:00–11:00 AM: Study session (Pomodoro method: 25 min study, 5 min stretch).
• 11:00–11:30 AM: Brisk walk or jump rope.
• 11:30–1:30 PM: Practice test questions.
• 1:30 PM: Lunch and hydration.
• 2:00–4:00 PM: Review flashcards or group study.
• 4:00–4:30 PM: Bodyweight strength workout or dance break.
• Evening: Light review and wind down for sleep.

This is just an outline that you can adapt to your own preferences and schedule. But as you can see, there are a number of easy ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine multiple times a day. 

Quick workouts that don’t require equipment

You don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment to see results. There are a number of ways to work out that can fit into any space, even a dorm room. 

• Bodyweight circuit: You can create a circuit routine and repeat with jumping jacks, squats, push-ups, lunges and plank. Just don’t forget to warm up and cool down.
• Yoga: A 15-minute yoga session with positions like Cat-cow, downward dog, warrior II, forward fold, seated twist and breathwork.
• 30-minute walk or jog: Stepping outside for a short while is not only a good way to exercise, but also offers a break from your surroundings. You could use this as a time to reset or even listen to review audio as you walk or run. 

Fitness apps and tools to stay on track 

Fitness apps can be great tools when it comes to balancing studies and exercise during exam season.

These tools and apps come with useful features like planners and timers that help to keep your study schedule tight and keep track of time. Some great apps include: 

• Nike Training Club
• 7 Minute Workout
• Headspace
• MyFitnessPal
• StudyTimer
• Forest 

Mental fitness is just as important 

It’s not just about workouts. Mental health is a huge part of NCLEX success. There are a number of mental exercises that can strengthen your mindset with: 

• Box breathing: 4-inhale, 4-hold, 4-inhale, 4-hold.
• Gratitude journaling: This is a great way to reflect and give yourself some perspective.
• Positive affirmations: “I am prepared”, “I can do hard things”. Affirmations can be a great way to build confidence and manifest your success.
• Sleep discipline: 7-8 hours of rest with a wind-down routine helps to build your mental strength. 

Nutrition for your brain and body fuel 

What you’re putting into your body can have a huge impact. You can’t run on caffeine and stress alone. It’s important to support your fitness and study goals with simple and nourishing choices.

Smart snacks for students include: 

• Mixed nuts for trail mix.
• Apple slices and peanut butter.
• Hard-boiled eggs.
• Greek yoghurt with berries.
• Hummus and carrots. 

Staying hydrated is also essential at all times, especially during exam season. Aim for 8-10 cups of water a day. 

Accountability and balance 

An accountability system can be a good way to stay consistent. This is a framework that helps to ensure you’re taking responsibility for your actions. It’s a great way to monitor, analyze and improve your performance. 

Some great ways to do this include: 

• Pairing up with a study buddy who also wants to stay active.
• Share daily wins on social media or in a group chat.
• Use a calendar or checklist for workouts and study blocks.
• Track both progress and effort, not just outcomes.

Balancing exercise with test prep is absolutely possible and highly beneficial. By moving your body, you’re also training your brain.

You’re giving yourself the energy and focus to absorb more, retain better and show up fully on exam day. You don’t have to choose between exercise and study, you can do both.

In fact, neglecting your health care actually backfires, leading to burnout, poor focus and fatigue. So really, fitness should be an essential part of everyone’s study strategy.