5 Ways To Stay Healthy (And Sane) In College

5 Ways To Stay Healthy (And Sane) In College. Remember your first day of college when you were so optimistic about everything and told yourself you would make the most of it?

Just a couple days after when the workload started to pile up and you realized college wasn’t going to be a breeze after all. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by things, but as a college student, you’ll learn how to better manage your time and resources.

When you find yourself feeling stressed and anxious about an upcoming deadline, it’s important to take a step back and assess the situation.

Telling yourself that you need to complete a task in an hour is likely to lead to subpar work and unnecessary stress. Instead, try to break the task down into smaller, more manageable parts. Dedicate 10-15 minutes to completing the task, and then take a break. This will help you stay focused and avoid burnout.

There are plenty of other ways to stay healthy in college, and we’ve listed some of our favorites below. Try incorporating some of these tips into your routine to reduce stress and improve your overall health!

Table of Contents

1. Don’t Skip Those Meals. Please.

It’s important to stick to an eating schedule and not skip breakfast, but we understand that there are days when this is just not possible. If you don’t have time for a full meal, there are ways to “eat smart” on the go. Here are a few tips:

Choose foods that are high in protein and fiber, which will help you feel fuller longer.
-Avoid sugary snacks and drinks, which will give you a quick energy boost but will make you crash later.
-If you’re really short on time, grab a piece of fruit or a veggie-packed energy bar to hold you over until you can sit down for a proper meal.
If you’re looking for a healthier snack option that will still give you the energy you need, try swapping out candy bars for trail mix or granola bars instead. Always have a few of these on hand so you’re never caught without a snack.
Meal prep is key for anyone trying to eat healthy on the go. Make time on the weekends to prepare quick and easy meals like overnight oats or protein that you can store in the fridge or freezer and grab whenever you need them.
Frozen fruits and veggies are a great option for smoothies on the go, and you can always stock up on smoothie mixes that you can easily blend before heading out for your first class of the day.

2. Mind Your Mental Health

College students are under a lot of pressure these days. They are expected to do well academically, maintain complex social relationships, and deal with family expectations and homesickness, among other things. It’s no wonder that so many of them struggle with anxiety and depression.

If left unchecked, these issues can follow students long after they graduate. They can affect their career performance, the way they navigate adult relationships, and even the way they see and respond to situations.

If left unchecked, these issues can follow students long after they graduate. They can affect their career performance, the way they navigate adult relationships, and even the way they see and respond to situations.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed or stressed at college.
Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of – sometimes it’s necessary in order to cope with everything that’s going on.
There are plenty of people and places on campus who can offer support during your time at college.
Counseling and medication are both valid methods of coping with stress and anxiety.

It’s important to have a great support system that you feel safe with, especially during your most vulnerable moments. Whether this is just a couple of people or an entire community, allow yourself to open up to them. That’s what they’re there for.

Finally, make sure to check in with yourself at the end of each day. Journaling can be helpful for this, and it’s a great way to celebrate your progress! Here are some sample questions you can use:

Having a great support system of people you feel safe with is crucial, especially during difficult or vulnerable moments. Whether it’s just a couple of people or an entire community, make sure you’re open to “your people.” That’s why they’re there!

It’s also important to take some time at the end of each day to check in with yourself. If you can, try journaling and celebrating your progress! Here are some sample questions you can use:

1.What was my biggest accomplishment today?
2.What did I struggle with and how did I overcome it?
3.What am I most grateful for today?
4.What do I look forward to tomorrow?

3. Get Moving. It Really Helps.

You don’t need to set aside huge chunks of time for a workout to maintain physical activity – sometimes the best way to stay fit is by working activity into your daily routine. This can look like:

There are many benefits to getting regular exercise, including reducing stress levels. Here are some great ways to get started with a fitness routine that can help you de-stress:

Going for a brisk walk in the morning and soaking in all that Vitamin D.
Getting involved in your favorite sport or learning a new one.
Organizing fitness dates or get-togethers with your friends.
Stretching before you sleep.

Of course, if you’re lucky enough to have access to the gym or a fitness class, make the most of it! Transform your workout routine into something fun by signing up for movement classes with your friends. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the time passes when you’re enjoying yourself.

4. Seriously, Hydrate.

We all know how important it is to stay hydrated, especially when we’re busy college students. It can be easy to forget to drink water when we’re rushing to meet a deadline or get to our next class, but it’s so important to keep our fluids up. Dehydration can lead to problems with focus and concentration, as well as UTIs.

Here are some creative ways to make sure you’re getting enough water throughout the day:

-Set a daily water goal for yourself and track your progress with a water bottle that has a built-in tracker.
-Invest in a cute reusable water bottle that you’ll want to carry with you everywhere.
-Add some fruit or herbs to your water for a refreshing and flavorful twist.
-Download a hydration-tracking app on your phone to remind you to drink up.

5. Get As Much Shut-Eye As You Can.

Sleep can be hard to come by when you have exams to study for and papers to write. Try to schedule your days in a way that leaves one or two nights open for sleeping instead of trying to cram everything into one night.

Even a 10 or 20 minute power nap can be helpful. If you’re feeling tired, try taking a nap before reaching for the coffee pot. And after an all-nighter, make sure to schedule in a longer nap to help you recover.

A good night’s sleep is key to success. Make it a habit to block off time for a full recharge instead of trying to cram in a good night’s sleep. You’re more likely to still perform well if you’re generally well-rested.

And finally, avoid using screens for at least two hours before bedtime. We know it’s tempting to just Netflix and chill until you can’t keep your eyes open anymore, but this never leads to getting good quality sleep. Instead, work on creating a sleep environment that will make it easy for your brain and body to wind down.

So there! We hope that with these simple and doable tips, staying healthy in college no longer has to be the oxymoron that every student smirks and laughs at.