Yes, and the link is stronger than most students think. Exercise does not just keep your body healthy, it directly helps the brain functions you use to study. Moving your body increases blood flow to the brain, releases chemicals that lift your mood, and improves focus and memory for hours afterward.
You do not need to become an athlete or spend hours in a gym to get this benefit. Even twenty to thirty minutes of moderate activity most days makes a difference. A brisk walk, cycling, dancing, playing a sport, skipping, or a home workout all count. The point is regular movement, not intensity. Many students find that a short walk before studying helps them settle down and concentrate, and a walk during a break clears a foggy head better than scrolling on the phone.
Exercise also helps with two things that quietly wreck studying, stress and sleep. Regular movement lowers anxiety and helps you fall asleep faster and deeper, and better sleep means better memory. So exercise pays off twice, once directly through focus and once indirectly through calmer nerves and stronger sleep. Treat it as part of your study plan, not as something separate that steals time from studying.
Example: A student who takes a fifteen minute walk before sitting down to study often focuses faster and longer than one who goes straight from lying in bed to the study table.
One practical tip: Use movement as your study break. A short walk between sessions resets your focus far better than ten minutes of scrolling.