Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Whether you are a student taking a test, a working person going for an interview, or a businessperson heading to a major presentation, it makes sense to go for a swim – or do any form of exercise. According to researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, one of the best things to do in order to prepare yourself mentally for any intellectual challenge is to do a small workout (in addition to getting a good night’s sleep and preparing well, of course). A well-timed workout is a great tool to score better on a test, interview or presentation. But there are some optimal parameters for your workout in order to improve your cognition: 1. Aim for a heart rate of 60% of your maximum. 2. Keep that level of exertion for 20 minutes. 3. Avoid racing others during your pre-test exercise. 4. Time your workout to end 20 minutes before your need to be mentally sharp. 5. After 50 minutes your cognitive boost returns to normal. So take the hardest questions first, wow the interviewer within 50 minutes, or make your point before your window of opportunity is up. Photo of Abigail Brown, a member of Madswimmers of South Africa and the third person who crossed Lake Malawi in 2010. Copyright © 2008 – 2011 by World Open Water Swimming Association