“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
Jeremiah 33:6
I have been at a big university for a little over a year now, and I have seen many alarming things done by fellow students and friends that make me ask, “Are you not at all concerned about your health?”. Of course, I know that college is where many students experience their first taste of freedom. However, there are still small ways to take care of yourself and still enjoy the traditional “college experience.” Also, these tips are either rather cheap or completely free, so don’t worry about blowing the little money you have on staying healthy.
I hope you enjoy these ideas and know that they are not set in stone but are just meant to inspire you on things you can do to keep your body and mind in their best condition while you pursue higher education.
Table of Contents:
Carry a water bottle with you all the time.
You know those girls who are always carrying around those huge reusable water bottles? Those hydro-flask girls? They might have been onto something. It is so much easier to drink more water when you are constantly carrying it around with you. Also, you are less tempted to buy from Starbucks or another beverage place because TADA! Your free drink is right next to you. And the great thing about college campuses is that there are water stations almost everywhere, so you are always close to your next refill. There are a bunch of different kinds of water flavorings that you can get on Amazon or your local grocery store if you end up getting sick of plain water or want to drink something sweet.
Eat veggies and fruit with every single meal.
I know that I said these were all cheaper or free ideas, but hear me out on this one. Fruits and veggies can be expensive, yes, but some can be found at an affordable price. For instance, if you have a meal plan and access to your campus dining halls, grab an apple and a salad next time you stop in for a quick bite between classes. If you don’t have a meal plan and do most of your cooking at home, that is cool too. Almost every college campus has (1) a food pantry and (2) a community garden. While the selection might only sometimes be the most varied or the freshest, it is free! And canned fruits and vegetables are still healthier than eating none at all. There are many recipes online for cheap dinners that utilize canned produce. And most of them are pretty good!
Don’t pull all-nighters, they are unproductive.
I HATE all-nighters with a passion. I have never willingly pulled one, but I know many people who pull all-nighters regularly. And after they pull these, they always look TERRIBLE. Our bodies were not meant to function without sleep, so we ended up working like a car with no gas. We don’t. I have had one general rule since high school regarding completing homework: if it isn’t done by midnight, it is just going to have to wait. I made this rule for myself because I realized that any work I did after midnight was of such low quality that it was barely worth turning in. The best method for not having to pull all-nighters is to manage your time wisely during the day when you are the most awake and productive.
Limit the amount of caffeine consumed daily.
Although I’m not too fond of coffee, I partake in my fair share of caffeinated beverages as a run-down college student. There is a boba place down the street from campus where I have spent far too much money on mango black teas, but that is an entirely different topic. My point is that while caffeine gives you a boost for a little while, it ultimately dehydrates you and causes you to crash, physically and mentally. While you don’t have to quit drinking caffeinated beverages, I recommend balancing them with lots and lots of water. I also recommended carrying a reusable water bottle around in the section above for this very reason.
Walk to places whenever you can.
I know this one seems obvious, but walking is good for you. Even though I live in Texas, and it is currently hotter than Satan’s barbeque pit, I still try to walk to places whenever I can. I will be doing it more once it cools down where I am. One of my favorite things to do is walk around campus and find the fun little events going on outside, and sometimes, I am even able to snag free food or stuff! Plus, being outdoors after hours of staring at a laptop screen or PowerPoint projections is very relaxing. Here’s a quick tip: only walk to and from places that are within comfortable distances; walking is good exercise, but it would be bad to get stranded on the side of the freeway, completely winded with jelly for legs.
I hope you enjoyed this post and have an extremely successful semester with your studies, relationships, and experiences. If you have any tips that I didn’t cover in this post or anything you want me to cover more in-depth, let me know in the comments!
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Until next time!
Great post! i may have broken the don’t pull an allnighter rule a time or two when I was in college
Lol with all of the assignments and the fact that I’m in my senior year, I think I might have to break that rule, too. Thanks for reading!