Edited by Jasmine Ryu Won Kang
‘Healthy’ is a term that gets tossed around constantly with different ideas floating around of what it really means. Everyone is unique, meaning each person has a different set of goals and ideals for their health.
Although it’s a highly stressed idea in our lives, as students, it’s never been more necessary to embed a healthy lifestyle into our routines. Staying on track with our physical health and well-being is the key to top performance academically, mentally, and energy-wise. It’s easy to forget simple things such as eating, getting enough sleep, and actually being active – trust me, it happens a lot, but there are ways around it and motivations to help with the transition to becoming the best YOU!
- Eating
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Food is your friend, but more importantly, healthy food is your BEST friend. And no, I’m not saying that you can’t have cheat days (because who could live without Pillsbury cookies?), but do be mindful. What you put in your body affects your mood, actions, and energy. With the amount of studying we do as students, attending lectures, having a social life, and doing other activities, we should aim for better nutritional choices that will benefit our health in the long run. Sometimes, even as bad as it sounds, we forget to actually eat enough in the day between all the things going on in our lives. A tip I have learned and stand by is using the My Fitness Pal app to track your personal calories to see how many you should be having in a day and use it as a reminder to stay on track and actually eat! I do this with a friend, as it’s helpful and motivating to feel supported by someone who cares about you.
- Getting Active
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Typically, the first thing that pops into our minds when we think ‘health’ is the gym. But that hasn’t necessarily been an option for a while due to COVID-19 and the lockdown of many facilities. There are millions of ways to get active in and outside of the gym today, and it’s thanks to the lovely internet. Fitness apps are a game-changer if using them at home or in a real gym – and a ton of fitness gurus are creating their own to help people like us be more active! Home workouts have never been easier as they guide you step-by-step and help you reach your goals with minor equipment needed. Whitney Simmons recently released her app “Alive”, with some great challenges and easy workouts to follow. Krissy Cela, another fitness queen, has her workouts featured on her Instagram page for easy access to save and try out for later! If workouts aren’t your thing, you can benefit so much just from walking with a friend, walking up your stairs at home, trying a yoga class or a new sport—literally anything that isn’t sitting can count as being active!
- Motivation
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Getting on track with your body isn’t easy and doesn’t happen overnight. We need to remember that it’s a journey and lifestyle we have to develop, like a habit. Writing down the things you want to include in your everyday routine can be a start to the change – even try scheduling it in your calendar under ‘self-care’. If you’re just starting to get active, some fitness clothes can be an excellent motivator since you’ll actually want to do the task, while feeling and looking your best too. Try creating a mini-challenge for yourself and a friend, and stick to it together with a reward for your effort!
- Cutting Ties
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A major part of taking control of your body is linked to your mental health. Stress is a debilitating emotion that creeps its way into all of us at some point or another, but we have the power to limit it as much as possible. Taking our mind off things that don’t sit well with us is the first and best way to start fresh and put yourself first. Whether the stressor may be a person, event, or anything in between, going into a new health journey with no weight on our shoulders is the best way to do it.
- Sleep
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This is very self-explanatory but also not stressed enough. Sleep is so important for us university students so we can literally function. All-nighters are way too common to not be getting a full eight hours at least! Have a set time when all electronics are away for the night and read a book before calling it a night. Using the bedtime automatic alarm for iPhones is my saviour and tracks my sleeping habits too so I can see how much rest I’m getting. Without taking care of this important physical need, we’ll burn out easily since we’re running around with a ‘do it all’ mindset, but we can’t achieve that without the proper care for ourselves.
Our body is a home, and we need to accept and understand that. By treating it well inside and out, we’ll be happier and able to function at our very best. In no time, you’ll be a whole new you—glowy, strong, and empowered.
