Being a college student is a full time job. You have back to back classes, and then on your breaks from class you find yourself doing homework. It is very hard to try and balance your lifestyle in a healthy way. Today, you are going to learn four tips to stay healthy throughout college.
First, focus on yourself!
This includes emotional and mental health. Staying healthy does not just mean physically. If you are unhappy on the inside, it will affect everything you do (such as classwork, papers, and final exams.) Getting rid of all your insecurities and anxieties is an important step. You can do this by writing down the positive characteristics you like about yourself. After writing them down, read them over. Over time, you will gain more confidence and begin to feel better on the inside. Also, don’t hold your emotions in. Learning how to be assertive will go a long way. There are so many stress relievers like exercising, drawing, chatting with friends; the list goes on and on! Once you release any negative tension on the inside, you will begin to feel happier and mentally healthier.
Second, watch what you eat!
Using self-control while eating and eating healthier foods will make you feel physically better. Fast food is an easy, inexpensive, and quick way to eat food. We are all guilty of eating it, but it is not always healthy for our bodies. According to an article called “Ten Shocking Fast Food Facts” by Sarah Brooks, “One fast food hamburger contains meat from up to 100 different cows.” Don’t you want to know what you are eating? You only have one body so you might as well keep it safe and healthy!
Homemade meals can be healthy, but sometimes they can be unhealthy. Regulating the intake of butter, sugar, salt, and oils will make meals healthier. Gaining weight while in college does not have to happen to you; just control what is going into your body. Most colleges have a nutritionist on campus who is willing to help students pick healthy choices on campus.
Third, exercise will also improve your health!
May it be a corny workout video, a walk or run in the park, riding a bike, or even going to the gym, exercise is very important! According to the article “Vigorous Exercise Linked With Better Grades” by Tara Parker-Pope, researchers say, “exercise made a sizable difference in a student’s G.P.A. On a 4.0 grade scale, students who exercised vigorously seven days a week had GPAs that were 0.4 points higher than those who didn’t exercise.” If that is not motivation to exercise as a college student, I do not know what is! If you take a little time out of your day to exercise, walk to class instead of taking the bus, or take the steps instead of the elevator, you will notice a change in your physical health. Maybe there will even be a change in your grades as well!
Fourth, regulate how much alcohol you drink!
No matter what college you go to, there will be talk about the parties that everyone went to the past weekend, or the parties coming up. College is the first time for most students being away from their parents. This causes students to feel free and independent. Turns out, most students that go away to school are not as mature as they may think.
Researchers show that “About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.” It has been proven that going out and partying can affect a student’s grades. It does affect your health as well. “More than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem, and between 1.2 and 1.5 percent of students indicate that they tried to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use.” You do not want to be another statistic, do you? College is a new experience and has many fun opportunities. Staying healthy includes limiting drinking and drug use. Both can lead to failing out of a class, health problems, and future addictions.
Staying healthy will keep you motivated and happy with life. So now you will be able to have a fun, healthy and safe college experience!
Sources:
"A Snapshot of Annual High-Risk College Drinking Consequences." College Drinking:. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2014
Parker-Pope, Tara. "Vigorous Exercise Linked With Better Grades." Well Vigorous Exercise Linked With Better Grades Comments. N.p., 3 June 2010. Web. 06 Apr. 2014.
