You might read the title of this article and think that it’s something that will tell you to change your life. However, this article is not meant to tell anyone what to do with their lives; instead, it is meant to be used as a guide. Everyone knows how important it is to develop healthy habits while they’re still young. However, not many people like to follow them unless they are forced to by their school or work schedule.
As a college student, it’s important to make sure you follow a healthy daily routine. That involves waking up early in the morning, eating a healthy breakfast, staying hydrated throughout the day, keeping good hygiene, exercising and going to bed early. You’re probably thinking, “That’s something I already know. Say something I haven’t heard before.” The truth is, there is nothing under the sun that’s new. However, there will be new ways to think about and do things. So, if you are a college student, what can you do to build a healthy lifestyle while you’re still in school?
Firstly, know that everyone has the intelligence to determine what is right and wrong for them. You can’t simply follow a routine that was written by someone with a different lifestyle. However, there are a few basic things that are universal: get eight hours of sleep every night, have breakfast first thing in the morning, brush your teeth before heading out to the world and drink lots of water. In addition, it is essential to have a healthy, early dinner because eating late isn’t healthy for your body. Most importantly, you must go to bed early, and read or listen to something instead of looking at your phone before falling asleep. Who can’t agree with that?
Well, to be completely honest, not many college students can follow that routine. It all depends on the student and what’s important to them. For example, many students procrastinate, causing them to feel stressed out and lose hours of sleep. This pattern could repeat every time they have assignments and big projects because they think that’s how they get tasks done. In actuality, it leads to burnout and subsequently losing interest in things that used to feel fun, like reading a favorite book, playing games or hanging out with friends.
Now, what can college students do to live a healthy lifestyle?
As a student, you know what lifestyle you want to live and what habits you need to develop to achieve your goals. A book recommendation that will help change your life is “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. If you use TikTok, you may have seen his book in videos or seen reviews on YouTube. Clear once said, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.” Who can’t agree with that? Well, it’s something to think about.
Five healthy tips to develop a healthy lifestyle
- Create a morning and night routine that fits your lifestyle at this moment. Have fun with it and don’t be too strict with yourself. Besides, this is your life and you want to make sure you’re happy and have a little control over how you spend it.
- Stick to a solid sleeping schedule. This is important because it will help you stress less and have the energy to start a new day. Think back to step one because you must adjust your routine and prioritize your sleep.
- Don’t forget to eat; actually eat regular meals, which include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yes, you are busy and probably running late; however, you must have something to eat, especially in the morning because you need that energy to start the day. Learning your school schedule and adjusting to it will allow you to have time for healthy meals.
- Stay active! Exercise has many benefits like weight loss, memory improvement, reduced feelings of anxiety and depression, and the release of dopamine (a hormone that makes you happy). You don’t have to do difficult exercises that you hate. You’re going to sweat regardless of what you do but it doesn’t have to be daunting. For instance, you can do yoga at home, go for a walk, and if you like, go to the gym. Figure out what works for you and try to stay active.
- Stop procrastinating. Doing things last minute is something that everyone can be guilty of. However, learn to set time aside to work on tasks in small segments. If you do that, you can avoid anxiety and burnout. You don’t need the added stress, so treat your mind and your body respectfully.
I hope you gained some knowledge about habits you can adopt or a newfound perspective on your routine. One thing to remember is that you are not a perfect human being and that your routine won’t always go the way you planned, but that is okay. Life is messy and learning to enjoy the journey is crucial.
