When you start college, it is easy to have less regard for your health and wellbeing now that you have gained independence from your parents and are away from the supervision of second-level education. That is why it is so important to make a conscious effort to look after yourself.
Here are our top easy tips for trying to stay ahead when it comes to your fitness, some information concerning looking after your diet while in college, and how to prevent and how to deal with mental health issues which may arise.
FITNESS PLAN
Keeping fit is an important part of staying healthy. We recommend coming up with some sort of fitness plan to ensure you are getting enough exercise each week. Sometimes it can feel exhausting to motivate yourself to go for a jog or do a home workout, but rest assured there are so many alternatives which are not only good for you but also very enjoyable. Here are some ideas on how to add more exercise to your fitness plan going forward.
Join a College Sports Club
Joining a club in your University can be a fantastic way to keep fit, and if you join a club where they participate in team sports, you have the added benefit of meeting people on what can otherwise be a very large and lonely campus.
There are so many options to choose from. Make sure to check your college’s website to see all the options available to you and get in contact with whichever you’d like to try. Some of them organise lots of trips, both in Ireland and abroad, which is an added bonus.
Exercise Classes
More convincing than self-motivation for many is having someone in front of you encouraging you to keep going. Incorporating exercise classes into your weekly workout routine could prove beneficial. Most third-level institutions run these, and some offer them free to students.
(Image credit to https://www.sports-insight.co.uk)
There’s bound to be something out there in the range of classes that you will enjoy. Different classes can cater for different things you may feel you need to add to your weekly fitness plan. My recommendations for things to look out for:
- Yoga – Yoga is good exercise, but it can also be extremely relaxing and provide you with an opportunity to recalibrate and reset in the midst of stressful college work.
- Boxing – A lot of gyms, including college gyms, run some form of boxing exercise class, be it a ‘cardio kickboxing’ or general boxercise. While with yoga, you mightn’t feel the effect of any exercise until the next day, boxing-based exercise classes are a great way to get your heart rate noticeably up.
- Zumba – Zumba and other dance-based exercise classes can be a lot of fun. While some of that fun may be taken away by having to do it at home looking at a screen at the moment with the pandemic, at first possible opportunity after the pandemic make sure grab a few friends and go to a Zumba class to have a laugh together and keep fit at the same time.
Increase Your Daily Steps
Another easy way to get more exercise in your day is to walk more. That could manifest in many ways – perhaps you can walk to college or stop taking short cuts. If you are going for a coffee with friends on campus you could suggest meeting up at a coffee shop that is a bit further away. If there are elevators around, try to avoid where possible and make use of the stairs. Increasing your step count can provide many benefits while not even feeling like a part of a fitness plan at all.
Another way to increase your steps which could be worth considering is going for a walk or a run around your college campus and surrounding area. Some colleges may be more suited to this than others, depending on space and location, however if you are new to the area this could be a great way to explore the area and get familiar with the locality.
DIET
Often when you go to college, it is the first time you are cooking everything for yourself. In the cities where our universities are located there are also the added temptations from the countless takeaways and fast-food places at your disposal. Here are three easy tips we have which you should consider, to make small but significant changes to your diet.
Alcohol
Alcohol and college are associated with each other all too often. But there is so much more to college than a few drinks. You may realise that through reducing your alcohol consumption you have a more enjoyable college experience – it gives you more energy to enjoy the day-time aspect of third-level education.
While I am not saying to eliminate alcohol entirely (although should you feel this is the best for you, it may be absolutely worth considering), be sure to keep the quantities consumed in check. Do not be afraid of getting a glass of water while you are out with friends or swapping every second drink with a soft drink.
If you enjoy the taste of certain drinks, it may be worth looking into the alcohol-free or reduced-alcohol alternatives to some of your favourites. You could try Heineken Zero, or there is also Spencer Matthews’ range of low-alcohol gins, linked here: https://clean.co/.
Drinkaware has compiled some useful tips to help you reduce your alcohol consumption, ranging from staying away from doing rounds of drinks to using smaller glasses. Check out all their tips here: https://www.drinkaware.ie/tips-to-drink-less-alcohol/.
(Image credit to https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/drink/four-of-the-best-booze-free-wines-and-beers-1.4411681)
Smoothies - Easy Healthy Snacks
If you feel like you are lacking in the vitamin department, you should really consider adding a smoothie to your day. Smoothies are one of those easy healthy snacks, with which it’s hard to go wrong. It’s a simple way to up your fruit and veg intake. Whether you drink one as an easy healthy snack or as part of your breakfast, make sure to include them in your week more frequently.
Water
Coffee seems to be the college student staple. While I am a strong admirer of coffee myself, you must remember that too much can be harmful. There is also much debate as to whether coffee dehydrates. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor your water consumption.
There are countless problems associated with dehydration, such as impaired brain function and headaches.
Get yourself a reusable water bottle, and make sure to fill it up before you start your morning lectures. If you are looking for a reusable bottle, find some here: https://ecostraws.ie/product-category/ecobottles/. To derive more benefit from your water, you could also add some sort of dissolvable multivitamin to your water. These should be readily available in local supermarkets or pharmacies.
MENTAL HEALTH
Tap into Your Creative Side
There is ample literature to suggest that the mental flow you get from partaking in artistic activities is similar to that which you experience through meditation. Therefore, it could be worthwhile to make time in your week for something creative, whether it is colouring, journaling, perhaps playing a musical instrument, or anything else you can think of.
You can read a little more about this here: https://www.mindwise.org/blog/mental-health/the-connection-between-creativity-mental-health/.
Make Use of Available Supports
Colleges should all have their own range of mental health services, including counselling services. In terms of how to deal with mental health issues, they provide incredible support. There are also countless helplines available which you should avail of if you think that you need to. This link is to Jigsaw’s ‘Get Support’ page, where you might find something helpful: https://jigsaw.ie/get-support/.
Another set of supports which is really important to use is your friends and family. Particularly since the start of the pandemic, college life can feel very isolated when you are working remotely without seeing the other people on your course. Make sure to reach out to a friend and have a chat to lift your mood and remind yourself that you are not alone.
MONITOR STRESS LEVELS
College can be stressful at times, especially at exam season, where it is easy to lose a bit of positivity. To keep your stress levels under some degree of control, make sure to stay organised. Start assignments and studying relatively early to take pressure away from the end of the semester. Keep an up-to-date planner or diary, with everything that you have going on and all of your deadlines. Prepare your meals in advance where possible, maybe at the weekend for the week ahead to free up more time during the week. It is also very important to go outside and get some exercise to clear your head if you do get stressed.
Image credit to https://www.elle.com.
Comment below to tell us what you think and be sure to share any of your favourite tips for staying healthy, nourished and happy in college!
