There is NO fun in being sick, especially while you’re in college. In general, college students are very busy people with extremely stressful schedules. While I was in college, I played two varsity sports; I was involved in over five clubs and the president of two campus organizations. On top of all of this, I also had to balance a part time job as well. At some point in college, you may feel stressed out or burned out, and this can eventually cause you to get sick. It has happened to me time and time again: I overwork myself and end up with headaches and an awful cold.
I made a vow to myself that I would do all that I can to prevent myself from stress, burnout, and getting sick. Here is a list of five important tips to help you stay healthy in college.
1.) WORK OUT!
I’m an extremely active person. I love running, playing basketball, lifting weights and anything else that can get me moving. However, with such busy schedules, working out is usually the first thing a college student will cut out. I was fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how you look at it LOL) to have had mandatory basketball practices each morning at 5:00AM and 4:30PM so I was always in great shape. Now that I have graduated from college, I still make time to work out. In an attempt to maintain my health and shape, I schedule specific days during the week to work out in some way. Whether it means just going to lift weights on my own or running two miles in the fitness center or going to play pick up ball at LA fitness. I always make time and I want to encourage you to do the same as you all approach your freshman year of college. Find something that you love to do that keeps you active! It will help you stay healthy AND relieve stress.
If He can work out, then you can too:
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2.)CREATE A BALANCED DIET!
Your diet is a great way to ensure that you are staying healthy in college. It’s so easy and convenient to pick up chick-fil-a (I must confess, I am downright guilty of this) or to have a few of the palatable cookies from the cafeteria as well. If you begin to start thinking more about eating healthier foods, then you will be less likely to become sick. You can do this by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. The next trip that you make to the grocery store can be the beginning of your commitment to healthier foods. Try to substitute some of the junk food purchases with apples or carrots. Try to purchase cereal bars, or mixed bags of nuts and fruits. Not only are they healthy, but they are very convenient to grab on the way out the door. It’s also a great idea to substitute a couple of those cans of soda or coffee with water. Decreasing your caffeine intake will help you sleep better at night! TRY IT OUT!
DONT BE THIS GUY:
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3.) CATCH SOME Z’s!
I am very talented in the art of sleeping. In fact, I may enjoy sleeping a tad bit more than I should (LOL) but then again, who doesn’t enjoy a nice night of counting sheep. My teammates and friends in college would always make fun of me for going to bed early. I would usually be in bed by 9:30p.m. or 10:00p.m. each night, especially the day before a test or exam. A lot of times, I would stay up later to study or complete homework, but I always try to manage to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Every person’s body is different; some people can work off of less sleep than others. Listen to your body and give it the right amount of sleep. Sleeping enough at night helps you remember the information you retained during the day. So, do your best to get enough sleep when you can.
DONT BE THIS GUY
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4.) DESTRESS!
Some may like yoga, some like to vibe to music, and some chose other activities that reduce stress. My outlets to relax and relieve stress in college were Netflix, NBA2K, and listening to music. A good Netflix movie was a great way for me to relax after a long week of work, practice, games, and tests. I would play my teammates and friends in NBA2k and this was a great way for us to relax. My stress relievers are not going to be the answers to everyone’s problems, but the point is that you need to find your “happy place” to go to when the weight of being college students is lying on your shoulders. You could try Zumba, running, skating, or anything that will allow you to refresh and calm down. A stress-free life starts with staying healthy!
What’s your stress releiver going to be?
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