HOW TO STAY HEALTHY IN COLLEGE

ISO - October 2008 e-Newsletter

As you would have discovered for yourself, college is a very stressful time. Not only are you mentally stressed out but carrying around all those heavy textbooks can get really tiresome. But, fortunately there are many ways to cope with the stresses of college life and one of these is to stay healthy. How do you stay healthy? Here are a few tips on how you can do it:

Sleep

This is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy but unfortunately it is often one of the most neglected areas, especially for college students. Sleep helps your body recuperate and also helps your brain to organize and retain the information you have absorbed throughout the day. Although it is easy to fall into the trap of pulling all-nighters especially before a big exam, getting a good night’s sleep is essential to improve your focus and concentration and to ensure maximum performance. In addition, not only is the amount of sleep important but the quality of sleep greatly affects how rested you will feel the next day. Although different people can fall and stay asleep in different environments, the best atmosphere for sleep is a dark and quiet room.

Eating Healthy Foods

The dessert bar in your school’s cafeteria can be tempting but too much of the wrong foods can negatively affect your health. It is important to eat enough fruits and vegetables and the right balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates. People who are on vegetarian diets should also be careful to ensure that they are getting the right amount of proteins which can be easily obtained from meals containing peas and beans. Although a good diet is important for good health, it is also perfectly fine to enjoy a treat once in a while. The key is moderation. Further, correct food portions should be always be relative to how physically active you are in order to maintain healthy weight. Another area which is important to students but which is commonly overlooked is snacking and this is important to maintaining high energy levels especially while attending back-to-back classes or while studying for exams. Instead of candy or chips, fruit snacks and cereal bars containing whole grains are a healthier and more filling option.

Exercising

In addition to improving your overall health, exercise relieves stress and improves confidence. It is a good way to release the tensions of your day and exercising produces endorphins which lead to feelings of well-being. Many colleges and universities have free gyms and even work-out classes and it is a good idea to take advantage of these. Even students who are busier can still manage to get enough exercise by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or riding a bike to get around. Starting a new hobby such as learning a new dance is also a great way to get a fun workout!

Drinking Right

It is important to drink enough water every day because your body needs to be properly hydrated to function right and uses water to flush out toxins. In addition to plain water, foods with high water content (such as cucumbers), herbal teas, juice and other beverages can be substituted for hydration but be sure to avoid using too many drinks that are high in caffeine and sugar such as sodas and energy drinks which can affect sleep quality. Additionally, adequate hydration depends on how much fluids are lost. Exercising and consuming alcohol are two activities that can more easily lead to dehydration and in those cases, drinking water or a beverage containing electrolytes is important to help your body recover quickly.

Mental Health

Along with the stresses of completing assignments, studying for exams or making an important presentation; personal, financial and other problems place heavy demands on the mental health of students. Staying physically healthy and active is one way to deal with stress and anxiety since exercise helps to create feelings of well-being. In addition, it is important to maintain friendships since friends can provide support and help you to deal with the problems and issues that you might be facing. Discussing the problems in your life with friends can also help to identify ways to minimize the effect of stressors such as time management, using self-relaxation techniques and setting realistic goals for yourself.