1. Stay active!

This is so vital but can be really difficult! It’s so hard to remember to make time for things like physical activity. Don’t get lost in your new freedom or the stress of a heavier workload. There are so many positive benefits of exercise! It gives you plenty of energy and releases endorphins into our brain which will keep a smile on your face. If you’re feeling lethargic and can’t find the right motivation to get out of your funk, try getting a group of friends together and heading to the gym! Having a buddy by your side is like bringing a guaranteed motivator and it can even help you get into a regular routine! You’ll feel better, look better and stay healthy! Don’t beat yourself up if there’s a day you can’t make it, you are on your own time.

2. Watch what you eat!

Trying to avoid those extra 15 is no easy task and a college-based diet doesn’t help. Everyone can relate to the struggle of eating healthy food when your choices are semi-limited. Trust me, I wish I could survive off Dominos or fries from the cafeteria. Ask around! There are plenty of people working who would be happy to show you the healthy choices that your school offers, maybe a gluten-free or low-calorie section. Disclaimer:If you’re craving something, eat it. Studies prove that people who try to avoid a food their craving are more likely to binge eat it hours later — don’t let that be you. We’re not perfect, and every once in a while that bowl of ice cream or snickers bar is just a necessity. “Sugar free” does not always mean nasty — give new foods a try. Sometimes a healthy snack is even tastier than junk food. Mindfulness of what you eat will lead to a happier and healthier you!

3. Respect your body!

Can’t stress this one enough — sleep as much as you can and hydrate yourself. I like to think of college like this: four years to learn as much as I possibly can and four years to get away with partying as hard as I ever will, staying out until 3 a.m. with people I love. In five years from now, we will all be real adults with real jobs and real responsibilities and will have no time to participate in the (sometimes reckless) activities that we do now. Having said that, sleep is so important when you’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle, so make sure you’re getting as much as you need. Drink a lot of water too, especially on the weekends cause God knows our liver will thank us down the road. If you respect your body, your body will respect you. Don’t push yourself further than you can reach.

4. Be confident!

Love yourself, all the time. No one ever said college was going to be easy, and it isn’t. A lot of us are on our own now without the guidance of parents or family to keep us on track. If you lose your balance a couple of times, plenty of new people will be there to help you back up. If you find yourself gaining a few pounds, who cares? Life is too short to not love who you are! Don’t be insecure because I can guarantee everyone around you is probably feeling the same way you are. What we look like will mean nothing when we’re old and wrinkled, but how we feel about the lives that we’ve led that will stand for everything. And don’t forget, when you fail you would be a fool to not try again — never give up on yourself!