With the new year comes a new semester with resolutions that you hopefully haven’t broken yet. No matter what your resolution is, this is a clean start to your second semester in college after a long break of catching up on sleep and returning to a normal eating and sleeping schedule.
Whatever new habit you decide to adopt, it is important to take care of yourself and stay healthy whether you’re a huge work-out junkie or just average on the fitness scale. Keeping healthy in college is key, so here are ways to stay healthy this semester:
1. Eat healthily (or at least find semi-healthy foods)
Eating healthy in college is rare, but it is possible. To eat healthily in college you can either strive to go to the supermarket and prepare your own foods for a week or you can find alternatives on campus while using meal swipes.
When using your meal swipes in the dining hall, keep in mind the Food Pyramid. So instead of grabbing that hearty piece of chocolate cake, maybe grab an apple or ignore the burger and make a salad. There are many alternatives for those unhealthy cravings such as smoothies, light snacks like popcorn (but don’t snack too much), cauliflower pizza crust, and more.
2. Try for the gym, if you can’t there are other ways
The gym is the ideal way to go workout and break a sweat and, lucky for you, most campuses offer a gym. Your workout plan can consist of whatever you would like whether it’s lifting, cardio, abs, yoga, cycling, etc.
However, I know as a fellow college student it can be hard to make it to the gym on a regular basis. So instead of going to the gym, go for walks in between assignments as a break whether it’s outside or around the dorms. You can also sign up for weekly yoga or cycling classes. Also, some colleges (AU included) offer one credit exercise classes such as salsa dancing and Zumba.
3. Sleep child!
Sleep is one of the most important things for your health. I know all-nighters can happen in college, we’ve all had one at some point, but time management is vital for your health. Either have set a time at night to call it quits on your work or set a goal to get a certain amount of work done before bed that allows you to finish at a reasonable hour. It is recommended to get 7-9 hours of sleep at night. So, with that being said, sleep child!
4. Get out of your dorm once in awhile, or even off-campus
While you may have loads of homework, a job or extracurriculars, it is always good to get out of your dorm or get off campus for a bit. Whether you’re based in D.C. or not, going somewhere that brings you peace allows you to take a deep breath and get the blood flowing.Other places you can go to is your local quad, different nature reserves away from campus, different memorials or some retail therapy at a mall like Tysons Corner Center.
Our health is made up of several components, but when you’re in college you forget that being healthy is even a thing. With this being a new semester and even a new year, strive to be healthier socially, emotionally, physically and mentally. Do what is best for you and don’t forget to put your health first.