Lifestyle Tips: 5 Ways to Stay Healthy as a College Student
Going away to college is an exciting time for anyone. It’s an opportunity to meet new people, learn new things, have new experiences, and begin to fend for yourself. But transitioning from living at home with your family to living on or off-campus as a student can be a steep learning curve for some. So to make sure you make the most of your time at college, we look at five ways to stay healthy as a college student.
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Lifestyle Tips: Reduce Stress
Better time management skills will help to reduce your stress levels, especially when it comes to your college work. But other things can make college life stressful, such as dealing with your finances. One of the first things to sort out is paying for your degree. Not just the tuition and classes, but your accommodations and living expenses too.
Many students choose to take out student loans, either federal or private lenders, to pay for college. Being away from home and in a different social circle may also cause you to feel stressed. If this happens to you, you’ll find it useful to talk to a student counselor or your friends. You’re not the first student to feel like this, and there are many ways to seek the help and support you need.
Provide Your Body with Solid Nutrition
We know how easy it is to develop bad eating habits. You miss a meal here, pick up some fast food there, rely on sugary snacks to get you through a study period. But ensuring that you eat good nutritious food is key to staying healthy. The good news is that eating healthily needn’t be a drain on your time or your finances. But you do need to take time to do a little prep. This can be as simple as writing out a shopping list not to buy random items when you hit the store or prepare a large batch of food in advance always to have a healthy meal to hand.
To ensure that you’re getting a good balance of nutrients, fruit and vegetables should be high on your list. One way to eat more greens, for example, is to include them in a morning smoothie. Next on the list should be protein found in animal and dairy products and grains, pulses, and beans. If you’re finding it difficult to afford meat for every meal, or if you’re vegan or vegetarian, opt for dishes made with lentils and beans. Not only will they fill you up, but they’re a good source of protein. It’s also important to include some healthy fats in your diet. For example, choose oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, and tuna, or add some avocado and olive oil to your salad. And don’t forget to drink more water.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Getting plenty of sleep is essential to stay healthy. And we know that the temptation to burn the candle at both ends is never greater than when you’re at college. After all, you have so much to fit into your time – classes, studying, socializing, playing sports – the list can be endless. However, if you create a good sleep routine, you’ll find that you have more energy to do the things you love.
Did you know that sleep is essential to keep the brain functioning as it should? Lack of sleep will not only make you feel drowsy and unfocused during the day but, if you consistently miss out on your sleep, your metabolism will eventually start to slow down. If you find that you have to burn the midnight oil to finish an assignment, eating high-protein snacks and drinking water will help. But ultimately, you need to schedule in some good quality sleep alongside your other activities.
Move Your Body
We all know that we need to exercise to remain healthy, but some of us don’t like the idea of running around campus or spending hours in the gym. But staying active doesn’t have to involve lifting weights or pounding the sidewalk. Instead, simply choosing to move more is a great way to get your body working.
Walk to class instead of taking the bus. Buy a bike and cycle everywhere. Join in a fun Zumba session with your friends – you’ll have fun and not even realize you’re exercising. Try new activities – skateboarding or conquering a climbing wall, chill out with yoga or Pilates, play ‘catch-me-if-you-can with friends, go out all night dancing, join a sports club. Being physically active helps not just with your physical health but your mental health too. It can give you a lift, help you focus, and improve your sleep.
lifestyle Tips: Manage Your Time
Learning to manage your time is one of the key ways to help you to stay healthy. Taking on too much or not organizing your time leads to stress, missed deadlines, missed meals, and missed opportunities. By planning out your time, you can set aside time to study, time to get your groceries, time to plan and eat healthier meals, and time to socialize. You’ll no longer miss deadlines and run the risk of jeopardizing your grades. So, learning to manage your time will make your life at college a lot easier and healthier with these lifestyle tips.
