In the presence of a stressful academic life and thriving social life, it can be hard to make sure we’re doing everything we can to stay healthy. Here are five ways to avoid the freshman 15.
Keep it cool
Oftentimes when we begin to fall into unhealthy habits, it's because we are stressed about certain aspects of our lives. As students, our academics, social lives and other engagements can make our lives overwhelming and impact our overall health. To keep yourself in balance, make sure to keep the stress to a minimum. Go to Counseling and Psychological Services or try meditation when you get a free moment.
Catch those Z’s
Another factor in unhealthy habits is not getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and weight gain. Make sure that you are getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Even if that sounds like a stretch to you, try napping when you can for 30 minutes and no more to keep your REM cycle on track.
Three meals plus snacks
It has been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Oftentimes, many students avoid breakfast due to a busy class schedule, but breakfast is vital to you starting your day on the right foot. When you eat in the morning, you’ll be less hungry at other meals and avoid overeating. In addition to eating lunch and dinner, you should also be eating snacks in between these meals to prevent overeating at any of the big three.
The buddy system
When it comes to staying healthy, it takes a village, so it may be a good idea to take a friend with you on your healthy living journey. This is a good way to keep each other accountable and share helpful tips. The best squad is a healthy squad.
Drink water
We all know that we need water to live. But many students aren’t getting enough. Typically, the average person should be consuming between 2.7 liters (11.5 cups) and 3.7 liters (15.5 cups) of water per day, from drinking water and other liquids as well as eating food. So to keep a healthy lifestyle, make sure you’re drinking enough water and staying hydrated!
College can be rough, and it can be easy to slip into bad habits. But if you keep these tips in mind, they can serve as your guide to beating the freshman 15.
