How to Take Care of Your Health While in College
Your college years should be the best years of your life. You get to experience a new level of independence, you have more control over your life than ever before, and you are making exciting choices all of the time. Your college years should also be some of the healthiest years of your life. Unfortunately, however, not all college students would be given an A when it comes to taking care of their physical and mental health. Here are three ways to take care of your health while you are in college.
Eat Well
You are the master of your diet. Only you can choose what you put into your mouth. Hopefully, you are choosing a wide variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean meat. At the same time, the hope is that you will begin to self-monitor your intake of refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and highly processed foods.
Also, be sure to get enough calories. College isn’t the time to go on a severely restrictive diet. You are probably quite active and need sufficient calories to fuel your brain and all that fun you are having!
Reduce Your Stress
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. In fact, they are both closely connected. You can’t usually have one without the other. Sadly, many college students suffer from depression and anxiety. This is often due to chronic stress. It may be difficult to manage your stress when you are under constant deadlines and pressure, but doing so is vital to both your health and your academic success.
Unchecked stress can lead to depression and a lack of motivation. When you feel the pressure mounting, take a short break to decompress and regroup. Take a walk, talk to a friend, play an instrument, write in your journal, or unleash your inner artist. All of these things are healthy ways to relieve stress.
Exercise
You may not think you have time to work out, but exercise is an investment into your success as a student. Exercise enhances your cognitive power, helps reduce stress, and boosts your immunity so you don’t get sick. Instead of feeling like you don’t have time for exercise, change your perspective to believe that you don’t have time not to exercise!
Your body is an exacting creditor. If you don’t give it what it needs it will always take what it needs by breaking down or getting sick. Go ahead and have the time of your life, but not at the expense of your health. Nothing is worth that.
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