We all have heard the stories about the dreaded freshman 15 and the mental insanity that comes when a student gets to college.
Some may say that they are impossible to avoid as a college student, but I have learned that it is indeed possible to stay fit and mentally sane during my time as a student.To start with, let's talk about physical health. It is easy to fall out of your fitness routine that you had at home when you come to college, especially if you played a sport in high school. It will be tempting to crawl into your bed after class and take a nap, and going to the gym may sound like to worst thing in the world, but staying active can make all the difference. If you are someone who finds it hard to motivate yourself at the gym, try out a group fitness class at your school's recreation center! They are really fun and a great way to get an hour-long workout in. Some of my personal favorites to take are indoor cycling, Zumba, and Pilates!
Along with keeping your body moving on a regular basis, being aware of what you are putting in it is a major part of staying healthy in college. With an unlimited meal plan and food just one meal swipe away, it can be difficult to eat healthy, and not getting to prepare your own meals makes that even harder. To keep yourself from gaining the dreaded freshman 15, try to stick with moderating your eating instead of trying to diet. Trying to keep yourself on a strict diet will leave you disappointed, because with the limited healthy options that are available on a college campus, you will get sick of eating salad every time you go to the dining hall. By moderating your eating, you can still eat all of your favorite dishes and snacks, just in smaller portions. Adding a small salad to your slice of pizza isn't the end of the world.
Last but most certainly not least, let's talk about mental health. For most students, coming to college is a bit overwhelming, especially during times like the first few weeks, midterms, and final exams. It isn't uncommon to be stressed out during those times when every professor decides to have a project due on the same day, but being able to handle that stress will make things so much easier to get through. In times of high stress, there a few things that I find especially helpful to my mental stability. You definitely need to get enough sleep, take the time to work out (also helping your body physically), listen to uplifting music while working, and make sure that you still make time for things you enjoy and that are relaxing. Doing all or a few of these things always helps me keep my cool when the pressure is on, and they could work for you too!
