During my first year of college, I created several routines to cope with stress while still taking care of myself. It is really easy to take the simple joys for granted, but those often make the biggest difference in how successful your day and even your semester will go.
1. Drink tons of water.
It's simple but it is one of the most important things you should be doing throughout the day, and many people don't drink enough. Generally an adult should drink about eight glasses of water a day, which comes out to about half a gallon, according to Authority Nutrition. I always carry around my reusable water bottle and try to remind myself throughout the day to refill it as many times as possible.
2. Have a salad with lunch and dinner.
In college dining halls, it is far too easy to load up on greasy food and carbs like french fries and pasta every day. I've made it a routine to start my meals with a salad and enough servings of vegetables so I can maximize the nutrients I get and minimize the unhealthy foods.
3. Create a gym routine.
Before starting college, I was never a fan of working out, and one of my biggest problems was finding the time in my schedule to get there. Once I got into the swing of my classes, I realized that if I planned the timing ahead and went every day, going to the gym became an easy and a necessary part of my daily routine. Having the habit of getting there has completely changed my fitness experience.
4. Plan healthy snacks.
Snacks seem to be able to make or break your day. If you try to go between meals without having anything at all, you will probably end up cranky and starving, and eventually give in and eat a ton of unhealthy snacks. While the fruit selection at the dining hall may not always be great, I try to grab a couple of apples, oranges, or bananas to bring back to my dorm to have throughout the day. If I catch myself getting hungry around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., I have that on hand to hold me over until dinner.
5. You don't need to clear your plate.
Another trap that is easy to fall into is trusting your eyes more than your stomach. If you have a plate full of huge portions of food, you'll probably want to eat every last bit of it even if it makes you feel too full. It is safer to start with the amount of food that you think you need, and you can always get seconds if you need to. This is also a good way prevent food waste!
6. Get a full night of sleep every night.
This probably seems completely unheard of for college students, but I manage to get a full night of sleep almost every night of the week. It might seem impossible to find the time at first, but once you are well rested, you will be more productive during the day allowing you to get more work done faster. In high school I was so busy that I scraped by on three to five hours of sleep every night and on some days I would fall asleep in every class. Now that I sleep enough in college, I would never go back. A huge part of getting enough sleep is turning off technology at night. If you're watching Netflix or laying in bed on your phone, time can pass so quickly that you completely lose track and lose valuable hours of sleep.
7. Find alternatives.
Since it is hard to completely cut things out of your life, choosing something to put in place of it makes it much easier. I love to drink water, but sometimes I get bored of it, and I used to always drink iced tea. While there are some healthy options, iced tea has too much sugar in it to be drinking it every day. I tried drinking seltzer, and fell in love with it, especially because it doesn't have any sugars or calories. Plus, it is super cheap compared to most other soft drinks. If you have a problem with snacking, nuts like almonds or trail mix can be a filling snack that has lots of protein, and is a much better option than a bag of chips.
8. Change things up.
Eating healthy does not have to mean eating only boring foods! There are so many weird but interesting ingredients and recipes online that can spice things up in a healthy way.
9. Treat yo self (a little).
The cliche "absence makes the heart grow fonder" can definitely be applied to food. If you don't allow yourself to have any of your old favorite sweets or snacks, you will probably end up eating a ton at once if you get your hands on it. Having a controlled amount of what you love, like a Twix bar instead of a whole package, can be a small reward to help you satisfy the part of you that wants it so that you don't go crazy.
10. Get outside.
During the stressful, tedious hours of studying, it is hard to think about taking a few moments to relax. Being outside is a great way to calm down, clear your head, and feel better. I have coped with my most stressful weekends by taking some time to go on a hike and explore and I don't know what I would do. If you don't know any trails near you, a quick online search can show all of the best nature locations in your area. Even if it is for a quick ten minute walk, being outside can make all the difference in how you feel.
