College can be one of the most exciting times of your life. With meeting new people and trying new opportunities, you’re never going to forget the experiences you have. But, it can be difficult to practice a healthy lifestyle when you don’t have much spending money or if you live on campus. When you live on campus, you are in close proximity to all of your classes and it’s extremely tempting to take naps between classes. It’s also easy to eat out for every meal since you’re away from home. It’s fun at first, but over time it can catch up to your metabolism and cause a dent in your bank account. If you want to and genuinely feel healthier physically and mentally, here are 5 simple but healthy things you can implement into your daily routine.

1. Make time out of your week for meal prep, or cook at home as much as possible.

Taking just 1-2 hours out of your day to go to the grocery store and buy enough food to prepare meals for the week will save money in your bank account and prevent you from going out to eat. If you live in the dorm and don’t have access to a stove, it’s best to buy HEALTHY frozen meals or ask a friend to use their stove. Having this type of organization is difficult considering college students don’t have a lot of free time, but this will essentially save more time and money over time.

2. Fill your fridge and cabinets with healthy foods ONLY!

Poptarts and hot Cheetos are a great go-to snack, but they are not energy-fueling foods. It’s better to invest your money in some healthier options such as fresh fruit or trail mix. These are great energy sources to snack on throughout the day that will keep you energized and ready to study that extra hour.

3. Make time out of your schedule to workout. It helps. I promise.

Working out is one of the best activities you can do to relieve stress, whether if that’s walking on a treadmill for an hour or hitting the weights. Spending a little time at the gym is better than not going at all! Once you have a routine set up to go 5-6 times a week, it’ll be hard to break out of the habit and you will notice a difference physically and mentally.

4. With that being said, use your planner!

I am one to admit that I do not use my planner as much as I should, but it should be one of the things you should be using similar to your cell phone! Having a planner will make you feel organized and prepared for what event is coming up. If things start to stack on top of each other, a good planner will help you feel grounded and ready to take on the day.

5. Start writing.

With the overload of quizzes, homework, and exams, college can be stressful AF. But, all of the fun activities you may participate in will balance the academic-based side. When times are good or bad, make sure you’re recording some parts that are going on during your day. Whether if it’s one sentence or three pages, you’ll thank yourself in the future when you can recall your memories.