As a college student, being healthy may be one of the last things on your mind. Between all the classes, extra-curricular activities, and trying to have a social life, who has time to worry about diet and exercise?
College is a time of freedom, exploration, and new beginnings. You’re away from the watchful eye of your parents. You’re in a new place where tons of new experiences await you. It can be easy to get carried away with your newfound freedom, and it can be even easier to neglect your health and well-being. However, it is important to feel good about yourself on the inside and outside. Here are some tips that I found helpful in making sure my health stays on track during the semester.
Exercise, even if you hate it
We all know that exercise is crucial for our health and wellness, but many of us just can’t seem to find the motivation to get off the couch or away from our endless pile of assignments.
A college student’s best bet for staying healthy is to find an exercise regimen they enjoy. This way, you’ll keep coming back to it time and time again. There are many healthy activities you can try, including yoga or meditation, martial arts, hiking, swimming, and rock climbing.
I’ve never been a super fit person, but I’ve been doing some form of exercise every single day for the past few months and now I feel so much better. The main thing that helped me set up a workout routine for myself was the realization that exercise is not just about the exercise itself, but the time and space it creates for me. Not only does it help you physically, but it also helps you mentally. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals called endorphins, which make you feel good. It’s a natural high, and it’s also a great way to take your mind off things.
Keep your dental health in check
After suffering from a toothache for a few days while visiting my friend in Saginaw, I decided to “bite the bullet” and go to a nearby dental clinic. As with many people, the prospect of a visit to the dentist’s office had me a little worried. Before my appointment with the Saginaw dentist, I was grumpy and irritable, I was irrationally certain that I had a cavity or something equally scary, but of course, as always, my worries were unfounded and I felt completely relieved and once I’d gone.
Combined with the stress of several deeply neglected essays and assignments, the experience cost me a few nights’ of good sleep. But I learned a valuable lesson about regular dental exams. The thought of going to the dentist can strike fear into the hearts of many, but you should rip it off like a bandaid. So, make sure that you have your teeth and gums checked by a dentist regularly to ensure good oral health.
Be mindful of your diet
A college student’s lifestyle is filled with late-night parties and junk food sprees. As a result, many students end up skimping on their breakfast because they think that not having breakfast can compensate for their previous day’s late-night food binge. The negative side of skipping breakfast is that you’re more likely to make unhealthy or impulsive food choices later in the day.
It’s important to remember that your body needs a wide variety of different nutrients to help it function optimally. You can’t just eat pizza and ice cream all day and expect to be healthy. You should be eating foods from all the food groups to ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients you need. For a healthy balanced diet, aim to eat a good amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Get proper sleep
We, young people, are guilty of gravely underestimating the value of a good night’s sleep. The idea of sleeping eight to ten hours a night is a foreign concept to us. I used to pull all-nighters all the time to study for exams and I’m sure a lot of you reading this have done the same. I would get myself so worked up about the impending doom of exams that I would stay up to study for hours, sometimes even days, in a row.
It’s amazing how many students are willing to sacrifice sleep in order to get good grades. But the truth is that proper sleep is just as, if not more, essential to your success and productivity. After all, you won’t be able to focus on your work if you’re tired and haven’t had enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. It can make a world of difference in your ability to concentrate, your short-term memory, and even your ability to learn.
As a college student, you’re likely faced with the dilemma of trying to maintain your lifestyle at the same time as coping with all the pressures of young adult life. Whether you want to stay on top of your studies, get involved in extracurricular activities, or simply have some fun and live it up – having a healthy lifestyle is a vital part of ensuring that you’re able to handle everything that’s thrown at you.