The transition of moving from home to college can really change up your lifestyle. Despite having to adjust to a whole new environment, it is important to find new ways to maintain an active lifestyle in college.
Be mindful of what you’re putting into your body.
Photo credit: BU Dining Services
While you shouldn’t stress yourself over counting calories, it is important to be mindful of what you’re putting into your body. You shouldn’t over-limit yourself to the point where you feel deprived of your favorite meals, but you should try to maintain a balance. Instead of feeling guilty about eating typical junk foods, try to balance it out by alternating between a few healthy meals and a few not-so-healthy meals.
Find some time to be active.
Photo credit: CMD Sport
While classes may take up most of your time as a college student, it is important to find some time to be active. Multitasking is a great way to be active in spite of having a busy schedule. Instead of laying in bed while you binge watch your current Netflix show or listen to your favorite podcast, do it at the gym instead while walking on the treadmill.
There are also some easy swaps you can do in your day-to-day life to become more active. Instead of taking the elevator for a few flights, take the stairs. Instead of taking your school’s on-campus shuttle, choose to walk instead. Instead of taking public transportation of Uber-ing somewhere within walking distance, choose to walk instead. If you’re talking on the phone or FaceTime-ing, pace or walk around. Implementing these changes in your day to day will make for a much more active lifestyle without a considerable amount of effort.
You should also try to spend more time on your feet, rather than just sitting for the majority of the day. It’s been proven that spending too much time sitting is not good for your overall health. Even if your lifestyle is mainly sedentary, it’s important to try to get up a move around a bit each waking hour.
It can sometimes be difficult to find the motivation to be active. A good way to find motivation to be active is to be aware of how active you are. An easy way to do this is by using a fitness tracker—like a FitBit or an Apple Watch. Being aware of your activity levels is a great way to maintain your healthy lifestyle.
In college, you are in charge of your own fitness, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle is much more attainable than you think. By finding a balance in your food choices and becoming more active, you too can be happy and healthy throughout your college career!
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