Hitting the weights may also help strengthen your recall, according to a study from Georgia Institute of Technology. Researchers found doing an intense 20-minute weight routine enhanced long-term memory by about 10%.

“We think the hormones released as part of the body’s response to strength training lead to the improvement in memory,” says study author Lisa Weinberg. “Best of all, it doesn’t have to be a long workout—even a relatively short one had an effect.” Although this study tested participants who exercised only once, other research (including long-term intervention studies) suggest that more is better, so keep up your regular workouts to maximize results.

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