With class back in session, whether it be online or in-person, it can be hard to stay healthy and active with extracurricular activities and homework keeping us busy. It was easy during quarantine to plan out meals, find time to work out, and to relax for the rest of the day but the bell has rung for classes and we’re busy rushing to stay on top of our ever growing homework pile. Since rushing back and forth between classes, homework and extracurriculars are slowly eating away at our mentality and bodies. Below is a list of how to stay healthy during this stressful semester.
- Plan Out Meals the Night Before
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This might be a toughie, but it’s honestly a lot easier than it seems when you have food that you like in your fridge and pantry. Pinterest, thankfully, has been a blessing during quarantine and has provided many healthy food recipes for me to try these past months when I’ve grown tired of eating the same old thing every day. A lot of the ones I’ve tried I’ve really liked and still use them! You don’t have to plan out your meals down to the exact ingredients, but a general and specific idea of what you want to eat the next day is good enough. It lessens the stress of what you are going to do the next day and looking forward to a delicious meal tomorrow makes sleep come easier.
- Work Out in the Morning
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You can say it. No one likes working out or feeling sweaty afterward, but we all feel great afterward whether it be mentally or physically. However, no one can deny the impacts of exercise on our bodies. I recommend working out in the morning because it’s easy to get it out of the way and then you’re welcomed by a fresh shower at the start of your day. Exercising also helps keep you awake and if you’re feeling sleepy in the morning, bust out a workout instead of a cup of coffee (but if you still need it, have at it, no one’s judging). It can also get your blood and heart pumping at the beginning of the day so you’re at the ready to tackle anything on your to-do list. No one wants to do homework or start their day drowsy so try working out in the morning to get a great start to your day!
- Listen to Positive Music
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What type of music we pick to listen to, no matter what genre, depends on whatever mood we’re in or what mood we want to be. That’s why I listen to Spotify’s Have a Great Day! Playlist to get an upbeat start to my morning. Spotify’s playlist offers a variety of positive music that instantly lifts my mood and has me singing along while I get ready for my day. While I do my homework, I don’t listen to Have a Great Day! but love to put on some Lady Gaga or Dua Lipa. These two amazing female artists provide catchy, positive, and dance-worthy music that makes me smile while I’m doing a frustrating Calculus problem or making my to-do list. Theire new albums that came out during quarantine, Chromatic (Lady Gaga) and Future Nostalgia (Dua Lipa), were exactly what I needed to get moving about in my house and uplift my mood. Future Nostalgia was my jam at the beginning of quarantine and was what I was singing along to on the car ride home. Chromatic, that recently came out, was what I needed in the mornings to feel better about myself and relieve some stress. So, it’s safe to say that playing positive music can impact your mood.
- Watch Some Youtube
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This might be a weird request but what you watch also impacts your mindset. That’s why I dedicated most of the quarantine summer to watching youtube. Don’t worry, I’ll provide you the favorites I have discovered this summer that make me productive and make me appreciate each day. If you’re interested in taking care of your skin and improving it, Hyram, a skincare specialist with 3.95 million subscribers, is the answer to all of your worries. Not only does he curate videos to his subscriber’s skincare questions and concerns, but he also points out which skincare companies are bad for your skin while bashing them in the process. He does all this with a comedic and fun way of helping with your skincare troubles that I strongly recommend. Hyram has forced me to change my entire skincare routine and buy new products that have totally changed my skin. His videos are worth a shot.
If you’re more interested in lifestyle and school and have your skincare routine already nailed down, I recommend Gracie O’Conner, Lauren Norris, Molly Glus, and Ellie Thumann. I don’t know how I ever went without these four girls. The first three girls, Gracie, Lauren, and Molly, all attend the University of Alabama and are in the sorority Pi Beta Phi. Ellie is a freshman at the University of Arizona who is in Pi Phi too. (I honestly watched these girls by chance and it’s just a coincidence that they’re all in the same sorority!) They create positive content that goes over what a day in their life is like, their travels, etc. that make you want to be productive and to do something in your free time. They’ve honestly made me more positive and to appreciate each new day. These girls are worth watching if you’re in need of some encouragement in your life or just want a boost of productivity when you’re lazy.
- Read A Book
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Honestly, who has time to read a book nowadays? You’d be surprised if you set time away during your day to just read a book and see where that will take you. I’ve tried reading a book a couple of days during quarantine and it was one of the most enjoyable things I ever did this summer. I always looked forward to a new book, an interesting story, and a fresh set of characters that made my day. Now, I don’t mean go out to Barnes & Noble and buy a book for $20 (though I do have a soft spot for new books). You can try hitting up your local library or even a nearby Salvation Army or Goodwill store that sells books at a discounted price. I know from my trips to Salvation Army and coming out with a stack of books that they have a great collection. Reading a book resets your mind and leaves you with a fresher mindset than if you were spending 30 minutes on your phone, which trusts me, makes you even more exhausted. So put down your phone and pull out a book!
- Remain Positive
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It’s hard staying positive through this difficult time in this world but it’s worth it to be healthy and to not regret the person you were during this quarantine. With all that’s going on, we all want to be physically and mentally healthyand remaining positive is the key. As I explained above, many things can boost your mood but at the end of the day it all comes down to you. I hope you take these tips to heart to hopefully change your mindset during this pandemic!