With busy schedules, college students don't have the best reputation for living healthy lifestyles. You have to write a lot of papers, work a part-time job, play sports, and socialize with your friends. And at the end of the semester, when you have to read more to prepare for exams, you may forget to care for yourself - to exercise regularly, eat well, and have time to relax. However, neglecting yourself can have a negative impact on your studies and hard work. Here are the best strategies that you should incorporate into your life. They will allow you to stay healthy and perform well during your college years.
Sleep Enough Each Night
Most people need from 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on different aspects of your life and lead to decreased ability to fight diseases or infections, reduced productivity, increased stress level, and as a result, negatively affect your college performance. Therefore, you should prioritize sleep and go to bed early. If you come home from classes feeling exhausted, take a power nap to boost your energy level before you start doing your homework. Avoid caffeine drinks in the evening, and do not pull all-nighters.
Stay Hydrated
Our body contains about 60% of water, which helps transport nutrients and vitamins to give us energy, remove waste, and regulate our body temperature. It's important to drink enough fresh water every day because dehydration can make you more vulnerable to infections and illnesses. Don't wait until you are thirsty - by that time, you'll be probably already dehydrated. The good idea is to bring a bottle of fresh water with you everywhere you go. Drinking about 2 liters of water will keep up your energy level and prevent you from binge eating. If water isn't your thing, you can drink tea, juice, and other non-alcoholic beverages, as well.
Exercise and Keep Active
You should get about 60 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. Regular exercise can enhance your life in different ways. Being physically active, you will feel better and look better. Physical activity will improve your cognitive performance, the quality of your sleep, and can help strengthen your immunity. It will reduce your anxiety and depression and boost the quality of your life. Find your workout routine and go to the gym with a friend to stay motivated. You can also take aerobics, yoga, or pilates classes and join a sports team. Aim for hitting 10,000 steps a day - walk to your class to achieve this step count.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Develop healthy eating habits. Never skip breakfast, which will give you an early morning boost you'll need to work productively in class. Get a well-balanced meal every time and avoid fast food, which is bad for your health. You should eat foods that can really fill you up - big salads or soups. Fruits and veggies will give you nutrients that will help prevent diseases and infections. Don't eat large portions at once to avoid overeating. Instead, pack smaller snack foods and bring them with you to class. Having nutritious and protein-rich snacks on hand will help you keep your body and brain optimized. In this way, you can minimize the stress that comes with low energy.
Manage Your Stress Level
College can be stressful without proper time management, and chronic stress can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health. Develop a work and study schedule and keep it to fight procrastination and avoid pulling all-nighters. Schedule enough time for your hobbies and socializing with your friends and take regular breaks to relax.