If you are like me, you have too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it. This only gets worse as you get to college and start a whole new life of your own. When I was in high school, I had a lot of extracurricular activities, such as band and softball. But I always had my parents there to support me. I don't only mean that they were there to encourage me, but also to remind me of the basics. To go to bed on time, don't watch too much TV, eat at least three meals a day. It was so much easier with them to hold me accountable every day. Then I get to college to start a new chapter of my life and everything changes. The nights get longer as the amount of work increases. You aren't required to work out unless you play a sport. And unlimited food swipes are an easy pit to fall into. I know we have all been there, and that is why it is important to make the conscientious decision to live a healthy lifestyle.
1. Don't eat junk all the time!
I'm not saying you can't eat junk food ever, and you have to have salads for every meal. That is just a sad way to go through college! But swapping even the most insignificant foods can make a difference. If that means having granola or fruit instead of chips when you are up at midnight studying for a test. I am horrible about late night snacking. As soon as 10 o'clock at night hits, I automatically start craving pizza rolls and chocolate.
2. Go to the gym!
Your school has a free gym...USE IT!! Do not take for granted all of the free resources that you receive through your school. I know with all of the responsibilities that go along with college it can be hard to make the gym a priority. But even if you go three times a week, you will see a huge difference. Think of the gym as a place where you can escape all of the responsibilities and reduce stress all at the same time. Although it may seem like a lot of effort to get up and go to the gym, it will pay off in the long term.
3. Find a gym buddy.
Whether it is your best friend, or someone that you met in the gym who knows what they are doing, find someone to go with. They will not only hold you accountable and make you do that last set of squats, but they will also make the gym a fun place to be. Once you go and meet people, the gym becomes a community. Similarly to a coffee shop or the dining hall, you can rely on the same people being there at the same time and that gives the gym a sense of familiarity and security. Soon your dreaded arm workout won't seem as terrifying!
4. Read a book (that isn't for a class)!!
I am a strong believer that an escape from reality is necessary in order to survive our crazy lives. So although I know the amount of work can be overwhelming, it is still important to take a step back and set aside time for yourself. Find a good book, make a cup of coffee or tea and hide away to read. It can be anything you are interested in, but make sure it is interesting. The best way to escape is to lose yourself in a good book. One that you get so wrapped up in that you forget about reality. Those are the best kind of books!
5. Go to office hours.
Despite what some students think, professors actually want to see you succeed! They are here to help you and have set aside time in their days to help you. Freshman year I didn't understand the importance of office hours. I figured I had already spent my required amount of time with them, so why would I visit them outside class? But once I realized that there was no shame in going to ask for help outside of class, office hours opened up a whole new world of opportunities. No matter how small a question, professors are there to go above and beyond to help. Also, I realized that professors provide a wealth of information for things even outside of class. There have been numerous occasions where I have gone to a professor and talked to them about life beyond college and different opportunities that await me once I leave. I promise if you take the time out of your day to visit with your professor, you will leave with a better understanding of the class, and a different viewpoint of problems in your own life.
6. Go outside.
It is amazing the difference that taking a walk can make. Even if you just walk around campus on a sunny day, it can change your entire outlook. During a stressful week, one of the best cures is sunlight. According to the Mayo clinic, sunlight increases the amount of serotonin released in your body. A higher level of serotonin leads to an increase in mood and can even lessen the effect of depression or anxiety. All college students know that stress is a huge problem no matter what your major. So get outside and walk around! Go play Frisbee with your friends or go swimming. If you are lucky enough to go to a school like mine, then go hiking! There are countless opportunities around you, go take advantage of them.
7. Spend time with your friends.
This can even be as simple as getting together and doing homework, or watching a TV show. It is easy to get caught up in your work and then look up and realize that it has been 10 hours since you last had human interaction. As important as it is to stay focused and work, it is equally as important to interact with your friends.
8. Call home.
Just because you moved away from home doesn't mean that the world stopped for your parents. They have put up with you for 18 years. Driven you to every activity that you attempted, suffered with you during finals weeks, and celebrated your victories. To them, you are their world. So call them! They want to hear about your dramatic horror stories about your latest class, your silly adventures with your friends. But this also means that you have to listen to your mom ramble on about the local gossip, or persevere through your dad's endless questions about classes and grades. These are the calls that make the distance seem not as bad.
9. Maintain good sleep schedule.
Just like any college student, I love sleep! But it is really hard to keep a good sleep schedule in college. Between piles of homework and friends to socialize with, it is so tempting to stay up late. Especially with the opportunity to take naps later in the day. But as much as we hope it is, this is not a healthy lifestyle. Naps do not provide the right quality of sleep that we need to function at our best every day. So try to go to bed at a decent time, and cut back on the naps. After a few days I promise you will see a difference in your quality of work.
10. Make sure that you have a balance to everything!
Yes, you can have your doughnuts, watch your Netflix marathons and have days where you do nothing! But make sure that you also find time to go to the gym, do laundry, go hiking, and eat your vegetables. Just because you move away doesn't mean that you can ignore everything that your parents have taught you for the last 18 years. College is the first time where you can show off your new found independence and prove to the world that you can survive, even if that means getting out of your room and putting on real clothes. So lets go celebrate this freedom by eating a pizza...then making a trip to the gym!
