College is an exciting time, and with all its new experiences and academic challenges, it is very easy for students to forget to take the time to care for themselves. Plus, we all know that living a healthy lifestyle is a lot of work, and finding the time is difficult when you are balancing life and school — especially when you’re just starting to figure everything out on your own.
However, before you doom yourself to being unhealthy forever, check out these healthy living tips that take hardly any effort at all.
Get Enough ZZZZZsss
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Stick to a sleep schedule, even on weekends, and limit napping. Your brain’s internal clock will get used to your sleep pattern, making it easier for you to fall asleep at night and get up in the morning (on time). Soon, you’ll find that the alarm clock app is no longer your worst enemy, and you’ll discover that your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” setting can be your friend.
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Avoid caffeine at night. According to National Sleep Center Foundation, caffeine’s stimulant effects begin as soon as 15 minutes after consumption and can last for hours. In fact, six hours later, half of the caffeine will still be in your system. Also keep in mind that caffeine is found in the most unlikely places: chocolate, some medications, non-cola sodas, energy water and breath fresheners, among others.
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Exercise. Working out helps you sleep. If you have trouble finding the time for exercise, you can download an app that counts your steps as you go through your daily activities. Set a realistic goal for yourself, say 10,000 steps, and you’ll be getting a workout without even realizing it. Find a workout or step-counting buddy to keep you motivated. You may even inspire your friends to start exercising!
Eat Better
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Take advantage of the three balanced meals your college dining hall offers each day.
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Stock up on healthy snacks. It is a myth that all healthy food will cost you and arm and a leg; look for stores that offer healthy options at a reasonable price, like farmers’ markets.
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Spread the good word (and food): When it’s your turn to bring refreshments to a campus activity, choose options such as vegetable platters or hummus and chips rather than donut holes.You can inspire your peers to take better care of themselves too.
Manage Stress
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Prioritize. Your syllabi are a great resource for planning your schedule. Are you on Instagram, but you have a paper due tomorrow? Is your science assignment going to take more time and effort than your math task? Make sure you pay attention to deadlines and know the amount of work involved in each task due. Then get to work on them.
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Use an app to manage time/tasks. Goal Tracker and Wonderful Day are two that are worth checking out. And don’t take on too much. Always refer back to your planner to know what you can and can’t do.
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Ask for help when you need it; this includes getting emotional support. Peers, family and counselors are there for you.
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Take time for yourself. Leave a day in your planner empty and reserve that time for something you enjoy. You need “you” time.
Many campuses, like Albertus Magnus College, have health and academic services in place to help you when you need it, so be sure to take advantage of what’s offered.
We all make unhealthy choices from time to time, but it’s very important to make sure that overall, you are taking good care of yourself.