Make exercise a natural part of every student’s day

University students – living their enviably free lives, and constantly receiving all kinds of investment from society. They mainly spend their time with friends, and on the side, they occasionally do a bit of studying in a field of their choice, and for free too. Why wouldn’t they have time to go out for a jog, when many of them don’t even have any responsibilities yet, such as children or mortgages?

In reality, students are a diverse group of different individuals of different ages who are trying to balance their studies, work, social life, wellbeing and various emotions relating to their personal finances, coping and futures.

Student life is, however, not completely carefree, even if it can seem that way when looking back from the rat race of working life. In reality, students are a diverse group of different individuals of different ages who are trying to balance their studies, work, social life, wellbeing and various emotions relating to their personal finances, coping and futures.

Students’ sense of belonging and community have been impacted by the pandemic. The transition phases on the education path and the time investment required to study often end up disrupting an existing hobby and making it hard to find new ones.

A lack of physical activity has been identified as a problem which affects the lives of many people, and decision-makers are willing to intervene in the impacts and costs caused by a lack of exercise. In the past few weeks it has become clear that exercise has a significant impact on both physical and mental health. In fact the effect that exercise has on symptoms of depression and anxiety can even be compared to the effects of medication and therapy (UKK institute 9.3; Helsingin Sanomat 20.3). But how can we make exercise easier in our performance-oriented culture?

The Finnish model as a new norm

The aim of the Finnish model is to make sure that every child can find a meaningful hobby – such as a sport – in connection to the school day. The model has been trialled in Finnish primary schools, and now the Finnish Olympic Committee’s election goals include future development of and continued funding for the Finnish model.

Clubs that are offered in connection with the school day were included in the Youth Act at the start of this year, but the current form of the Finnish model has also received some criticism. In a joint statement by the Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi, the Finnish Youth Association and the Guides and Scouts of Finland, the organisations state that the model should be better at acknowledging the existing local hobby activities, and that the funding for the model should be reconsidered. The model also needs to do a better job at including the children and young people who are faced with a higher threshold for taking part in hobbies than those children and young people who already have hobbies. One suggested improvement would be to introduce a hobby voucher so that children and young people could choose a suitable hobby on the open market.

We think the model would also work really well at university level: let’s offer every student a free, meaningful exercise hobby to do alongside their studies.

The Finnish Student Sports Federation also wants the development work on the Finnish model to continue. We think the model would also work really well at university level: let’s offer every student a free, meaningful exercise hobby to do alongside their studies. Let’s not limit the joy and health benefits of having a hobby only to pupils at comprehensive school, but instead let’s expand the Finnish model so that it also acknowledges the needs, opportunities and wishes of university students.

A free exercise hobby which slots easily into one’s regular schedule will prevent the exploding costs and negative impact on health that the lack of physical activity causes later in life.

With the Finnish model we can turn student exercise culture into a part of their daily lives which increases a sense of community, improves their quality of life and promotes health. Let’s remove the threshold for investing in one’s health created by money and guarantee students’ wellbeing and future ability to work through a meaningful hobby.

The article is part of the blog series Worth moving for, where we explain the background to the Finnish Student Sports Federation’s goals for the parliamentary election.

Part 1: Student sports must be taken into account in university funding

Part 2: Higher Education on the Move supports long-lasting and overall well-being

Part 3: We will include students in the promotion of exercise

Part 4: Make exercise a natural part of every student’s day