As a college student, now is the time to incorporate healthier habits and build a lifelong commitment. Whether it’s keeping up with routine doctor visits or ensuring you get enough sleep, you can ensure your college experience is a positive one. Of course, you’ll have ups and downs, but there are several steps you can take to have your best life, both during college and after graduation.
Telehealth Solutions
Whether it’s preventive care or treatment for a specific illness, quality health care is part of having a balanced lifestyle. Having access to telehealth demonstrates caring, especially since it allows you to quickly get answers to your health-related questions. It’s the perfect solution for busy college students, and you can get a diagnosis and treatment for your concerns. You won’t have to travel to and from the office, and the wait time for an appointment may not be as long.
Keep A Clean-Living Area
Whether it’s a dorm or an off-campus apartment, you’ll want to keep the living area cleaner. Even wiping down the mouse, doorknobs, and other frequently touched surfaces can keep the area more sanitary. And of course, you’ll want to clean the floors and change your sheets often as well. In the winter, regular dusting and vacuuming is even more essential. You might not get the best air circulation since the windows remain closed. You might consider investing in a vacuum that has an air filter so you can remove allergens from the floor, blinds, and other surfaces.
Getting Enough Sleep
As a college student, it’s often difficult to get enough sleep, but it’s critical if you want to keep your body healthy. If you find it hard to fall asleep, you might try becoming active, so your body is more tired at night. You can cut out screen time starting an hour before rest and create a nightly routine to help your body wind down. You might consider meditating, reading, doing yoga, or drawing to help your body relax, signaling that it’s soon time for bed. Even though college is a busy time in your life, there are not many excuses for not getting enough sleep every night. If you are healthy and stay disciplined, you can still get seven to eight hours of sleep most nights. Listen to your body and know when it’s time to start your nightly routine.
Staying Active
If you don’t work out already, now is the time to build the critical habit. Some college students already get physical activity because they walk around campus a lot. But if you don’t, consider leaving some time for exercise. You might decide to leave a few minutes earlier so you can walk instead of taking the bus. Or you may decide to join a workout group offered by your school. Whether it’s cardio, strength training, or just getting active, regular exercise can help you focus better. Plus, working out might motivate you to eat better and drink more water.
Eat Well And Stay Hydrated
Now is a great time to start bringing water with you, no matter where you are going. Unless you are sure the function will have water, it’s best to have a water bottle with you. Then you’ll be more likely to drink since hydration is important. Water helps you stay energized, and it might help your skin and muscles as well. It’s particularly important to stay hydrated during and after exercise and during hot weather. It’s often hard to eat well in college, but a healthy diet goes a long way toward building better habits. Once you get to school, you’ll likely have the freedom to pick whatever you wish to eat, and it might be tempting to load up on pizza and other options high in fat. However, you’ll often find you can focus better in class when you have the right types of foods.
When changing your eating habits, you’ll need to make mindful decisions and stick to your new diet. You might not want to have salad instead of burgers and fries, but it can add more color and creativity to the meal. You might feel more energized when you cut out sugar and other unhealthy options. Eating better is about more than just seeing what’s available at your dining hall and other locations. It’s best to learn how to grocery shop to plan a healthy meal. You’ll also want to do some meal planning, including thinking of snacks rich in protein and nutrition. That optimizes your body and brain, and it reduces the stress associated with low energy and hunger.
Helping Your Body Recover
From sporting events to dances to other social gatherings, it’s easy to spend all your free time with friends. And many of these events happen during the night or on weekends. You don’t have to give up your social life, but you should listen to your body and know when to quit. You might try to stay better hydrated, go home at 11 p.m. instead of 2 a.m., or avoiding potentially unsafe situations. Even staying out late a few nights each week might negatively impact your immunity, energy, and sleep cycle. Plus, other aspects of attending parties, like drinking too much, might consume more of your energy. Try to create a balance between health and enjoying time with friends.
Finally, you’ll want to listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right, it likely isn’t. Try not to ignore potential problems, since doing so might make them worse. So, if you feel yourself getting sick, try to take some vitamin C and get some extra rest. If you have pain somewhere, you might want to have it checked out by your doctor. A telehealth appointment is an ideal solution. Your college days might be the first time you’re on your own and making decisions for yourself. The habits you develop while at college will likely influence you after graduation. That’s why it’s so important to remain healthy and cultivate the right habits. Then you’ll be able to live a more balanced lifestyle.
