I know, this sounds completely unrealistic, who has the time? We’re too busy constantly stressing about the six-page essay due next week and the two midterms that we have on Friday. And then when we finally make it through the first mountain of work, we’re hit with another one almost immediately. Constant stress, work, and the pressure to hang out with your friends makes the possibility of trying to be more health-conscious almost nonexistent.

What people need to realize is that you don’t need to completely overturn your current life to begin becoming more healthy. There are many small steps you can take to begin making a difference in your life in the long term. I know that when I started college, my eating habits went out of control. Having an unlimited dining plan brought me to the point of it being perfectly normal to have four meals a day. And, of course, whenever I was bored, my friends and I would just go hang out in the dining hall. This is mistake number one, eating out of boredom. This is a very prevalent issue seen throughout all areas and walks of life. There are many ways to combat this problem, but I find two to be the most successful. I began drinking a ton more water and simultaneously began picking up more hobbies. The more activities and commitments you have, the less time you have to sit around and mindlessly consume empty calories.

That being said, I found drinking more water also helpful for combatting my {slight} addiction to drinking soda. While not everyone may share my love for caffeinated, carbonated, horribly unhealthy beverages, I’m sure we all have some sort of bad habit that we just can’t manage to kick. I am still an avid supporter of caffeine, I mean you can’t survive college without it, but I have begun to replace soda products with tea and {occasionally} coffee. Green tea, Black tea, decaffeinated tea, all three provide excellent sources of antioxidants, reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke {I know this is probably your number one concern right now}, boosts your immune system, and may even help combat cancer. Replacing my caffeine source with tea and only drinking water the rest of the time will change your life for the better. Even if you aren’t seeing any negative effects from sugary beverages in your life right now, that doesn’t mean you won’t see them in the future.

I also began changing some of the main staples in my diet. I used to be a huge bagel lover. And I still am. But now instead of having a bagel with cream cheese every day for lunch, I have started turning towards more energy and protein rich foods compared to the large amount of carbohydrates and fats found in bagels. Instead, I might make scrambled eggs (cheap) or a spinach salad, or even sometimes tuna fish (minus bread or crackers). While there are many other options for what you can eat, what is most important is just becoming more conscious about what you are putting into your body. You know your body best and some things might work for you that won’t work for others.

I'm also a big snacker. But instead of snacking on chips or candy, I’ve replaced it with almonds, fruit, or baby carrots. Fruits and vegetables are great options for a low-calorie, energizing snack. They provide you with an excellent source of nutrition without forcing you to feel guilty about it.

And of course, we can’t forget about exercise. This one I find to be the most difficult. Throughout high school I was, like many of you, I’m sure, very active. But coming to college I no longer played a sport or had a practice routine to follow. This makes it extremely easy to just sit on your couch and watch an entire season of Netflix in one day. I’m not gonna lie, I sometimes still do this, but what’s important is creating a balance in your life. Just like its ok to eat that giant ice cream sundae every once in awhile, you deserve a day of binge watching Netflix too. While I would ideally go to the gym every day, I just don’t have the time between doing school work and going to real work. I shoot for going a minimum of three times a week. If I can squeeze in another day, then I just feel that much better about my week.

I have also just discovered this awesome app called Sworkit. You can download it in the app store and it provides you with specific time increments of exercise that focus on different areas of your body. It is my new favorite thing. I would always find an excuse to not do abs every day, “I don’t have time” or “I don’t even know where to start”. This app takes away these excuses. It tells you exactly what to do for the exact amount of time. Plus each segment is only five minutes. You can do three separate exercises and only take 15 minutes out of each day. This has really helped me to stop making excuses and implement a routine in my daily life. Remember, it only takes 21 days to make a habit, before you know it, daily exercise will be just as natural to you as brushing your teeth.

What’s important to remember when you want to change you lifestyle, is that it won’t happen overnight. It begins with small changes in your everyday life. And it doesn’t have to cost you tons of money buying expensive gym equipment and fancy organic food and protein supplements. It is more about focusing on removing the bad habits you do have out of your lifestyle. Reducing the negative foods you put into your body with more vegetables and fruits is just one option for you to consider. Being regularly active and drinking water are also important factors in moving towards a healthier lifestyle. I promise it’s not as difficult as it may sound. With the right motivation and dedication, it is an endeavour that will only help you benefit and improve your current lifestyle.