College is hard ya’ll. But believe it or not, it is possible to live a happy, healthy, college lifestyle. With these tips and a little motivation you’ll be sure to see a change in how you feel on a day to day basis. Here are some tips about healthy habits you should try when school starts back up!
Don’t eat after 8pm
This is one that can be tricky for college students with crazy schedules and late classes, but not eating after 8pm is a good goal. This isn’t always going to be possible, but the biggest thing to keep in mind is to not eat carbs late at night. You won’t DIE if you do, but you will feel better if you don’t go to sleep with a full tummy.
Read before bed
This is a habit that I have adopted recently, and it has made all the difference. Find a good book and wind down reading before bed instead of scrolling through Instagram for the 1000th time that day. It doesn’t matter if you read a paragraph, a page, or a chapter. Reading before bed will help you clear your mind of all of the leftover thoughts running through your head after a long day. So next time Netflix asks if you if you’re still watching say, “no” and pick up a book instead.
Wake up earlier
The feeling of waking up early is SO worth it, but it can be hard. When you wake up earlier you can start your day off strong by exercising or getting some work done. Being productive is very important in college, so utilize those early mornings to make the most out of your time instead of sleeping in!
*BONUS TIP*
A good option for someone who wants to wake up earlier but is constantly struggling is a sunlight clock! I just got one and it has completely changed my wake up game. Buy one here!
Walk more. Those Adidas superstars were made for walking, right?
The University of Utah is a BIG campus, so you probably think you get all of your steps in during the day. This usually isn’t the case. Really trying to walk 10,000 steps a day is a big challenge. It can be a lot, but walking is an easy way to live a more active lifestyle. Try to make it a habit of walking whenever you can. Take short little walks in-between study sessions or walk from your dorm to Ugurt! You work hard and deserve a treat every once in a while (but walking to it makes it even more worth it).
Wear sunscreen everyday. You’ve gotta protect your skin!
This is SUCH an important one. We are young college students and this is the time we should be taking care of our skin. If you haven’t already- it’s time to adopt a skincare routine. Do some research about all of the serums and oils that will transform your skin. But first things first, next time you’re in the market for moisturizer and foundation make sure to get ones that have SPF in them. Because even if you don’t think you’re going to be out in the sun, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Get 8 hours of sleep every single night. (FINALS WEEK = EXCEPTION)
Sleep in college is basically non-existent. When you are trying to balance everything that school has to offer sleep is often last your to-do list. Getting enough sleep will help you be happier, less stressed, and an overall healthier human. Take into account how long it takes you to wind down. Maybe start reading a book at 10pm so you can be in bed and asleep by 11pm. You will definitely see the benefits of sleeping more and your body will thank you.
Soooo I know that we aren’t all thrilled about school starting back up… But- at least now you have some new goals and things to focus on other than looking over your new syllabus. You don’t need to try to implement all of these habits into your routine. But maybe give one or two a try and see how it goes. Here’s to a great fall semester!