Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be quite difficult as a college student. Irregular schedules, late nights, food choices, and tight budgets can take a serious toll on your health. Since 2020 was a long and tough year, health should be one of your priorities this year.
According to a survey about New Year’s resolutions, more than 50 percent of participants reported that they’ll exercise more, while 39 percent said they’ll improve what they eat. With so many people worldwide prioritizing their health and wellbeing, students need to start thinking of ways to promote their lifestyle in 2021. Here are five simple tips to achieve this goal.
1. Exercise regularly
There are a lot of benefits linked to staying physically fit. It boosts macular and cardiovascular health and fights illnesses. Exercise can affect your mental wellbeing positively by relieving stress and anxiety. During the pandemic, promoting your mental health is key. Therefore, squeezing a couple of minutes to exercise three to four times a week will pay off in spades in the long run. Here are a few simple ways to break down your exercises and make them manageable:
Walk for at least thirty minutes twice a week
Do strength training exercises while watching your favorite TV show
Jump rope for fifteen minutes when you get up and when you go back to your apartment
Physical exercise can help reduce pains and aches. According to scientific studies, when it comes to spine health, motion is medicine. Also, form the habit of getting up from your desk and stretching.
2. Consume nutritious foods
Apart from consuming enough whole grains, fruits, and vegetables during the day, students need to consume proteins in the morning. Including protein in your breakfast will stabilize your blood sugar levels and hunger hormones. Some of the best proteins include Greek Yogurt, Egg omelets, and a protein shake. You should avoid too much sugar, especially in the form of fructose corn syrup. Consuming too much sugar leads to insulin resistance which is similar in many ways to type 2 diabetes. It has also been linked to kidney disease, cirrhosis, cancer, and inflammation.
Consuming less red meat has lots of benefits. Your cholesterol levels will drop dramatically, and this will reduce the chances of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, and heart disease. You can follow your diet by avoiding red meat and consuming a diet that contains lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, and antioxidants. Finally, do not wait too long to eat because it increases your chances of grabbing something that wasn’t on the menu. Take the time to prepare and pack healthy snacks that you can consume in school.
3. Maintain a sleep schedule
The pandemic has disrupted a lot of students’ sleeping patterns. However, it is essential to keep a regular sleep schedule. Research studies have shown that adults need at least eight hours of sleep every night. Getting enough sleep is essential to boosting your immune system, concentrating in class, and remembering important concepts. You can establish a regular sleep schedule and save time by setting clear goals, reading essay writing service samples, avoiding caffeine, turning off gadgets before going to bed, exercising regularly, taking afternoon naps, avoiding alcohol and drug abuse, and setting boundaries when it comes to social media.
4. Protect yourself from the virus and flu
Medical practitioners have reported that students can protect themselves from the coronavirus by maintaining high levels of hygiene, wearing a mask, and maintaining social distance. Protecting yourself from the flu will also help you avoid adverse effects. If you tend to catch a cold, you should consider getting a flu vaccine.
You’ll be happy to know that the preventive measures of COVID-19 also apply to that of the flu: wear a mask, maintain social distance, avoid large crowds, maintain high levels of hygiene and stay at home when you are feeling unwell. It’s essential for students expecting to have a family to get a flu shot and keep their babies safe.
5. Balance your commitments
It’s okay to stay up once in a while to complete your projects and assignments on time. However, it’s not good to make it a habit. Staying up for hours will increase your stress levels and make it harder for you to concentrate in class. Even if you are getting good grades, think of some of the best ways to manage your time effectively. Keeping a schedule of all your assignments and planning will help you avoid the last-minute rush.
Balancing commitments is one of the hardest things that most graduates face. Balancing between studying and a part-time job or with social commitments and relationships is not easy. You need to maintain a life away from books and assignments. Keeping your life balanced and organized will not only improve your performance but also your health. As a student, effective time management is everything.
Bonus Tip:
Manage stress effectively
Most college students are stressed today. And stress can harm your health, especially your immune system. You need to think of ways to manage your stress levels effectively before it starts affecting you. Most students can easily structure their study sessions and take short breaks between the sessions. During the break, you can jog to clear your head, read your favorite book, catch up with friends or meditate. You can avoid stress and tension by preparing and staying organized throughout the week. Attending classes and submitting your assignments early will also help in minimizing stress levels.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not that difficult as a student. All you need to do is manage your time effectively by organizing your activities in order of priority. Finally, do not be afraid to seek help when you need it.
