It's often difficult to live a balanced life while in college. It seems as though there aren't nearly enough hours in the day. With classes, exchanges, exercise, assignments, and sleep to juggle, the ability to balance often slips through our fingers. By spending extra time studying, we forgo a few hours hours of sleep. Going out with friends one night may force us to push off our gym plans. By the end of the week we're exhausted and wishing that the weekend could last forever. Although it may seem impossible to feel refreshed after a week of college life, here are 10 ways you can live a little healthier and feel a little better.
1. Get More Sleep: Studies, like one from WebMD, show that adults generally need between 7.5-8 hours of sleep per night, with some individuals needing around 9. Is it difficult to get 7.5-8 hours of sleep every night while in college? Yes! Especially when the bars close at 2am. But that doesn't mean you can't pick a night, or two, where you go to bed early. You'll wake up feeling refreshed and your body will thank you.
2. Exercise More: Going from 0-100 is a horrible idea, but adding a few more workouts to your week is definitely beneficial. Exercise is not only beneficial to your physical health but it is also shown to improve your mood, boost your energy level, promotes better sleep, and even improve your sex life. This change doesn't mean you have to spend extra hours every week in the gym. Throw on a HIIT workout on youtube or go through a yoga flow in your living room. Walk to class instead of taking the bus, take a jog through the cornfields. Exercise should be enjoyable, so find what you like and add a few more workouts to your weekly routine.
If you can't make it to the gym, you can always try doing crunches in front of the TV while watching food network.
3. Smile: Psychology Today published a study that showed smiling is more than just a way we show happiness. In fact, smiling can actually feel happy because you smile. Smiling can help boost happiness, increase tranquility, and confidence. Why not feel a little better and smile a little more.
4. Drink More Water: It's recommended that we drink about a half a gallon of water a day. That's around 3 (750ml) camel baks. Start off your day by filling up a water bottle, or buying a reusable one if you haven't already, and continue to sip water through out the day. It's important to stay hydrated and it will leave your skin glowing and your body quenched.
5. Me Time: Take some time, even just a few minutes, and unwind. Release all the pent up tension and stress and enjoy the moment. If you have time, go for a walk, or watch your favorite TV show. Enjoy the time you have to yourself and don't worry about all the added stressors you have in your life.
With only a few more weeks in the semester, it's important to revitalize your mind and body. Make the conscious effort to live a little healthier. Invest time and energy into your body and it will reward you. There's nothing better than being refreshed and revitalized
