Between juggling classes, homework, work, and social life the idea of implementing healthy habits seems almost laughable. Exercise? Way too tired, a nap sounds better. What we fail to realize is just how easy sneaking health into everyday life really is. Commonly ignored health issues amongst college students include a poor diet, having little to no exercise, lack of sleep and excessive stress levels. The following tips may help you realize how some minor changes can help lead to a healthier lifestyle.
1. Poor Diet
You’ve got a million things to check off your to-do list and there’s no time to cook back at your room. It’s okay to eat on campus but try your best to choose smart. Instead of the amazingly gooey quesadilla, get a fresh salad. Picky eaters don’t worry, healthy foods are equally as delicious and the more you give them a chance the more you too will come to realize it. Taking an hour or two out of your weekend to prepare your weekly meals is another option that will save students both time and money.
2. No Exercise
Considering the limited amount of free time, you have there’s also definitely no time to hit the gym right? But really, of the 24 hours you have in just one day all you need to do is take 30 to 60 minutes to get active. Staying active keeps your mood elevated and promotes a higher sense of self-esteem. Nobody says you have to push weight seven days a week- unless you want to. The gym could be an intimidating place so if you’re unsure of where to start, grab a friend and check out the awesome fitness classes the Rec Center has to offer. In all reality, you don’t even have to walk into the gym to stay fit. On a day to day basis, you can walk or bike to class and choose to always take the stairs.
3. Lack of Sleep
Ah the thing that seems to solve all problems-sleep. But, perhaps it’s really causing them. Most college students nationwide are sleep deprived and such circumstances reap negative benefits. I believe this habit comes down to poor time management. Countless students stay up all night in attempts to cram in last minute work. I suggest you practice better time management skills and set a goal time you would like to go to bed all while considering a full 7 to 8 hours. This may seem excessive as some of you could be used to just 3-5 hours a night. Getting enough sleep does great things for our body such as keeping us at a healthy weight, lowering risks of serious health problems, and what I find most important for college students- reducing stress and improving your mood. Sleep keeps you young especially by reaping beauty benefits as well, like beautifully radiant skin and lighter under-eye bags.
4. Stress
Destressing can be done in countless ways and is really subject to the person doing it. Whether you prefer to turn off your phone and pick up a book or hop into a warm bubble bath, self-care becomes more and more important as college expectations seem to get higher and higher. We’ve always been told that school comes first, but never put your health whether mental or physical on the back burner. We all deserve to take at least an hour out of our busy days to sit back and relax.
Extremely important and commonly ignored, health is essentially self-prioritization which should always come first. It may feel easier to ignore these things when college life seems to consume you, but health can only be ignored so long. Taking the initiative to better yourself at a young age is far better than dealing with the consequences of poor health once you’re older. Any and all effort towards a better version of yourself matters!