It’s one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions: get healthier. But for those who don’t know where to start, this goal can be overwhelming—a University of Scranton study found that almost 90 percent of people don’t achieve their resolution. If your 2014 goal is a healthier you, get started on the right path with these 8 simple tips:
1. Build a Better Breakfast – While grabbing a large croissant from G-Dub Java on your way to class may seem like a quick no-brainer, its lack of nutritional value is not likely to sustain you or give you energy to propel you through to lunch. Aim for breakfasts with healthy doses of protein and fiber: fruit, Greek yogurt, and oatmeal are a few suggestions. Don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast? Check out these 34 Healthy Breakfasts for Mornings on the Run.
2. Walk More – Even though we city-school students tend to walk more overall than our suburban counterparts, taking a few extra steps every day is a small yet achievable goal to start off the new year. Perhaps you get off the metro one stop before your destination on those DC-exploring weekends or simply walk up and down the escalator at Whole Foods, it’s up to you! If numbers motivate you, investing in a pedometer (or an app to track your steps) is a great way to see your progress.
3. Make Time for Exercise You Like – As hard as it is to make time for another commitment in college—balancing classes, clubs, and jobs is difficult enough—this is about making a commitment to yourself. Purdue University found that students who worked out at the gym actually had better grades! But squeezing in a run a couple of times a week is one thing—finding something you actually like and want to stick with is most important! Sign up for an LSPA class, take your own routine to the gym, or find an activity (kayaking on the Potomac, running around DC, or even a cardio/kickboxing/etc. class at Lerner) that you like, and resolve to stick with it.
4. Make Your Own Meals – Going out to eat all the time can get expensive quickly. Making your own meals not only saves you money, but allows you to control exactly what is going into them! With Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Safeway not far away, release your inner chef and start experimenting with your favorite cuisines! (Homemade sesame chicken, anyone?…)
5. Socialize Smarter – So many social gatherings are centered around food, but take control of your surroundings and suggest outings that aren’t food-related. Bowling! Shopping! Going to see the new panda at the National Zoo! The possibilities—especially in DC—are endless. If you want to incorporate your friends into your healthy resolution, invite them to cook with you: nothing says Girls Night In like homemade dinner and a (Ryan Gosling) movie.
6. Remove Temptation – This is all about controlling your surroundings. If you have foods you know will tempt you or lead you astray, get them out of your pantry! It’s much easier to reach for a healthy snack if it’s front and center in your fridge, rather than last night’s leftover pizza.
7. Sleep! – Thinking of pulling an all-nighter? Think again. Sleep is rare for a college student, but multiple studies have linked increased sleep (around 8.5 hours) with weight loss. Not only will the extra hours awake during an all-nighter come back to haunt you as you drag your feet the next day, but all that time awake could lead you to eat more food to try to stay awake during the night!
8. Start Slow and Steady – If leading a healthy lifestyle was easy, everyone would do it! Resolving to eat better or exercise in the short term is great, but incorporating it into a long-term lifestyle is the real challenge. By focusing on small steps and short-term, achievable goals, it’s easier to become motivated and stay committed!