Tips for Staying Fit and Healthy in College
Being healthy in college can sometimes become somewhat of a challenge, especially during your freshmen year and of course during finals week! Whether you are studying to become a licensed vocational nurse or completing your bachelors degree, it can be very easy to get out of a regular healthy eating college routine. However, many studies suggest that eating healthy at college and exercising regularly both play crucial factors in students academic abilities and achievements. Thus it is very important to set up good exercise and eating habits early on in college to ensure both a productive time in college and a healthy lifestyle ahead of you.
Here are our top tips for staying healthy in college:
Eat Your Five A Day
If you are wondering how to eat healthy in college, you can’t go wrong by simply eating five fruits and vegetables a day. Although this may sound a lot, there are many dishes that can knock out a few at a time and also fruit and vegetable juices can do the same. Try having a regularly stocked fruit bowl in your dorm room so you can munch on these healthy snacks throughout your day.
Take Your Vitamins
If you really can’t imagine giving up your pizza and beer college diet but still want to remain somewhat healthy, you may want to take some daily vitamins to boost your energy levels and your immune system. Some good vitamins to consider are iron, zinc, Vitamin A, E & C or alternatively you can just take a daily multivitamin.
Exercise
Most campuses have plenty of college fitness opportunities. Try enrolling in a sports team or signing up for the college gym. Enlist your friends to join as well and you can encourage one another to keep up the good fitness fight! Even if you just walk or bike to your classes some days instead of driving or busing it, this can make all the difference to your personal fitness level! Make sure you do at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise a day and make working out in college a top priority!
Stretch it Out
Stretching is one of the many important ways to stay healthy in college. Students can easily experience aches and pains from leaning over books for hours at a time in the library or carrying a heavy backpack with them all day. One way to avoid any feelings of discomfort is to stretch several times throughout your day. Whether you practice some yoga or just bend over and touch your toes, stretching regularly can help you feel more relaxed and help you avoid muscle tension from building up.
Get Some Sleep
Sleep study after sleep study emphasizes how important it is to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night to maintain a healthy mind and body. Although this may seem challenging when dorm parties are in full swing or when exam season rears its ugly head, you should still try and get plenty of sleep most nights during the week. If you live in a particularly noisy dorm or apartment complex, try ear plugs or even noise cancelling earphones. If you have trouble sleeping for long periods of times you may want to try an over the counter sleep aid or doing some exercise before you sleep.
Study Online
Studying for a degree online can definitely help you lead a healthier lifestyle while you complete your education. Most online programs allow you to make your own hours and schedule, which means you will likely still have plenty of time to fit in decent daily workouts as well as a restful sleeping pattern! What’s more, you likely won’t have to move from home to complete your online degree so you will be able to cook your own healthy dishes rather than relying on the often extremely unhealthy selections you typically find in college cafeterias!
Take it Easy
Eating healthy in college and staying fit require discipline and time but you shouldn’t let these or your studies completely dominate your schedule. To promote maximum health and energy, it is important that you also have some down time during your week. This could mean sleeping a few extra hours one day or just doing very little another. In order to recharge your batteries and feel energized you will definitely want to take some time to chill out from time to time.
As you can see, there are so many easy and simple ways you can have a healthy college experience. College doesn’t have to involve gaining 15 lbs or rarely getting a good night’s sleep but rather the opposite! You can be as healthy as you like in college and enjoy and reap the benefits of having more energy for your studies as well as your social life. Don’t be afraid to try some of our suggestions as they really can work and good luck!
