6 Tips for Maintaining Good Health For Students
Adults like to say that college years were the best years of their lives. But is it truly so nowadays? According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, about 80% of US students feel stressed, anxious, and depressed sometimes or often. The truth is, modern students have a lot on their plate, and their problems go beyond essay deadlines or extracurricular activities.
Young people usually forget about their health and the need to take care of it every day. Here are six simple tips that will help students maintain good health and stay on top of their classes and social life.
Tip #1: Healthy Nutrition
When talking about eating healthy, the term ‘nutrition’ is more appropriate than the term ‘diet.’ A diet is something short-term, associated with a weight-loss regimen. But nutrition is about nourishment on every level and should be chosen as long-term practice and become a part of the lifestyle.
Students are on the go all the time. To have balanced and healthy meals, they should not skip breakfast, eat fruits and vegetables, drink enough pure water, limit fast food, junk food, alcohol, and caffeine. The food and drinks a person consumes influence their mood and mental and physical well-being, which is why it requires attention. Students can ask their parents for help, hire a nutritionist, fitness trainer, or just install an app to track their eating habits and physical activity.
Tip #2: Sleep Schedule
Brain activity is said to exhaust more than physical one. To restore energy levels, students must have a sound and tight sleep. Pulling an all-nighter once a month won’t hurt much, but it may not be healthy to do it every week. All-nighters are easy to avoid if a student has a specific schedule and sticks to it.
It is suggested to have a night routine and create some rituals and healthy habits before bed. One should not drink coffee in the evening and try not to snack or have full meals right before they plan to sleep. It is also a norm to take a nap during the day. Another piece of advice is to take melatonin gummies or spray a pillow with melatonin spray — those will help to fall asleep faster and sleep tight without waking up at night.
Tip #3: Prioritize
One of the reasons many students struggle with anxiety, depression, and stress is a lack of ability to prioritize. Deadlines, exams, job, social life, and personal relations can become overwhelming. And sometimes one should decide between going to the gym/party/concert or preparing for a test. From time to time, a student should even decide which essay is essential and pick among subjects, making sacrifices.
Fortunately, there is a way to cope with every task and meet every deadline. Students can outsource not important assignments to online writers and editors. TopWritersReview is a great resource that reviews different writing sites, thus helping you to decide which company is legal, professional, and has student discounts.
Tip #4: Regular Exercise
Human bodies need movement, as movement means life. Sports help to reduce stress, improve mental health, become stronger, increase confidence, and have better sleep, of course.
Doing exercises does not necessarily mean going to the gym five times a week. Students can start small and take a walk from their studies instead of taking a bus. They can go jogging, take pilates or dance classes, or even do yoga following a YouTube video guide. There are plenty of ways to make your body move, and it will bring only advantages to students’ health.
Tip #5: Mental Health
Mental health is a huge aspect of human health that is often neglected. To study well and be healthy, students must feel comfortable in the environment they are situated in. Classmates must not be toxic, teachers must not be abusive, etc. Attending classes must not be a burden.
There are many things students can do for their mental health. They should talk to parents and friends about personal problems, voice their real feelings, anxieties. It is an excellent way to receive support or some pieces of advice. Sometimes going to a therapist is also a good idea, especially today, as one can do it online, with or without video calls. A more budget option is to start journaling and writing your thoughts down.
Tip #6: Listen to Your Body
Many online articles write endless lists of tips and tricks for students to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But some of them forget to mention that it is always necessary to listen to your body, specific needs, and desires. Sleep if you feel tired; eat if you are hungry. Surround yourself with pleasant people only.
Final Thoughts
After entering college, students get overwhelmed with a huge amount of information. Often they have to study at night, which has a bad influence on their mental state — lack of sleep, irritability, decreased mental activity. All this shatters the psyche. To maintain good health by the end of their studies, students need to monitor physical and psychological health. And to free themselves from unnecessary stress, they should have a sound sleep, do regular exercises, eat quality food, prioritize, and listen to their body.
Joanne Eliot
Joanne is a professional content writer, editor, and former college professor. She is passionate about helping your people, college and high-school students, so she shares her experience and knowledge in her articles. Follow her for more useful tips and tricks.
