College tasks us all with new responsibilities, new adventures, and new goals. We often have it drilled into our minds that we can only choose two out of the three essentials when we enter college: Sleep, Social life, or our Studies. While I hate to be the bearer of bad news, I often think our own health, physical and mental, gets lost somewhere in this battle and it really should be a priority to us budding adults. In fact, many of our other priorities can improve by simply taking the time to improve our health. Here are some ways I have found helpful in maintaining a healthy, positive, and well-rounded lifestyle.
Buy Your Own Groceries
Of course we have all heard of the dreaded "Freshman 15" catching us off guard when we replace mom's asparagus with an extra slice of pizza. Eating dining hall food is not a simple task; rather it is, as I believe, a form of art that takes practice to cultivate and master. Finding a meal that encompasses all five food groups and that is tasty is deemed almost impossible with the dried look of the meat and the undercooked green beans. It becomes easy to fill that hole in your stomach with the self-serve, soft-serve ice cream and puff pastries. That is why I propose buying your own groceries. No, not to cook yourself a full-four course meal, but instead to supplement healthy snacks into your day where your meals may be lacking. When protein is lacking because of the sketchy look of the pork loin, nuts and other legumes are a good snack to supplement. In addition, having fruit on hand for a quick grab and go snack is a great alternative option to something like a pastry or a bag of chips. Ultimately, by selecting your own groceries you can add in some of your favorite foods and snacks that you may not normally get from the dining hall while also being mindful of your own health. Plus, I personally LOVE grocery shopping it is so relaxing.
Seek Out That Vitamin D
College makes it easy to become trapped indoors, glued to a textbook or the latest Netflix craze. Granted, we wander from class to class, but are quickly shuttled back indoors to hit the books. This is why it is particularly important that we make the effort to seek out the sunshine and appreciate all of its shining benefits. Most importantly, just a short time spent in the sun fulfills your daily recommended amount of Vitamin D, making positive strides for not only the strength of your bones but for your mind as well. Vitamin D acts as a hormone to stimulate the release of serotonin, a powerful chemical in our brain creating a sense of happiness. This is why the sunshine usually brings positive mood vibes along with it. It is also easy to couple being outside and collecting some Vitamin D while being active, whether it be walking or more intense like running, take your exercise outside! Or simply bring your anatomy textbook to the quad and catch some rays while allowing the sunshine and Vitamin D to work wonders on your mind and body.
Just The Right Amount of Sleep
It is recommended by researchers from Stanford University that college students get between eight and nine hours of sleep each night. I fully support this claim and I believe that it is something that we all should incorporate into our daily routine. In my experience, I do not believe many college students receive this recommended amount of sleep, and many, if they do, are finding themselves in bed later than 2 a.m. and sleeping until noon. In my opinion, this leads to less productive days. Establishing a well-kept sleep routine is important for every college student-regardless of sleep style. However, with college comes roommates and that is why it is especially important to find a roommate who's sleep schedule can blend well with yours. Also, some days of college, climbing into your bed at the end of it all may be your favorite activity of the day.
Particularly at this time of year, with finals looming, papers and presentations on the daily, find the time to take care of your health. Go to the local grocery store and buy some of your favorite healthy snacks and even few treats to keep yourself motivated (I write this as I reward myself with a strawberry frosted donut), soak up some sun while diving into the novel you procrastinated reading, and perhaps most importantly, get cozy in your bed and settle in for a full 8 hours. Your body and your mind will thank you, and surprisingly, so will your grades.
