Avoiding Freshman 15
The freshman 15 gets even the best of people if you aren’t careful. Most schools have dining halls that are buffet style, where there is as much greasy and fried food as you want. And chances are you will grab a dessert and soda as well. There is an abundance of energy drinks that are given out for free on college campuses and midnight pizza is a staple for many students. All of this combined with lack of sleep and no exercise leads to some ugly results. So instead of panicking when looking in the mirror right before summer gets out, start off your year with some healthy decisions:
- Walk or bike whenever and wherever you can on campus. Your campus may be big or small, hilly or flat, but regardless: it's probably walkable/bikeable. Do your best to take the long way when you can. Also, if you can avoid hopping in a car to go off campus, do so. Walk or bike whenever possible. The extra activity will add up, often times without you even noticing it if you’re able to work it into your daily schedule.
- Join an intramural sports team. Never played rugby or softball before? Who cares! Intramural sports can be a fun way to learn a new sport, meet people, and stay healthy during your time at school.
- Use the campus gym. It's most likely free, or very cheap. Make the most of it while you can. Kill two birds with one stone and bring your books to the gym. A paperback can fit in the magazine holder on the elliptical and treadmill machines, and if it’s small enough to hold you can ride the stationary or recumbent bicycle while reading as well. Get creative - your mind and body will thank you.
- Get a workout partner. Not good at always making it to that 8:00 a.m. spin class? Find someone else who is interested in attending on a regular basis, and help hold each other accountable. That same friend can also hold you accountable to being in bed by a decent time and to take the necessary steps the night before to feel energized and refreshed the next morning.
- Choose diet soda instead of regular. You might be surprised at how quickly all of those calories add up!
- Eat a salad (or a piece of fruit, or a healthy side veggie) with whatever else you grab for dinner. And do it every time. Just because French Fries are available with every meal doesn't mean you should be eating them with every meal. The fiber in fruits and veggies will help you feel fuller for a longer period of time, so you won’t be reaching for another greasy/sugary snack after a few hours.
- Eat a healthy breakfast. Your mom was right: your day does go better when you eat a good breakfast. Avoid the donuts and grab some oatmeal to go. And eating breakfast can make you more alert in class. If you find it hard to make time for breakfast in the morning, at least grab a health snack for your morning class. Almonds and bananas are a good choice - transportable and you won’t create any distracting noise for your classmates.
- Keep healthy snacks in your room. Even if you don't have a fridge in your room, you can still keep pretzels, fruit (dried or fresh), healthy nuts, and energy bars on hand. If you surround yourself with junk food, chances are that’s what you will always eat.
- Don't get dessert every time you eat. True, the dining hall may have unlimited self-serve ice cream, but that doesn't mean you should eat it every night. Save it for a treat, and it will be all that much better when you do indulge.
- Avoid a fourth meal. If you're going to order food late at night, make smart choices. Staying up late into the morning is pretty common in college. It's OK to fortify yourself with the occasional snack while studying, but make sure it's actually a snack, not the equivalent of a second dinner or dessert. Try eating fruits and veggies, along with a handful of almonds and tall glass of water. You might be drinking coffee to stay awake, but water will also help keep you alert and hydrated.
- Do something physical every weekend. Go for a run, join a pick-up game, play Ultimate Frisbee with some friends. Just get your body moving.
- Pick your liquor carefully. Alcoholic beverages are full of empty calories, and sugary cocktails are the worst for both calories and hangovers.
- Let yourself splurge every once in a while. Giving in to the self-serve ice cream machine is fine, as is the donut you are craving for breakfast, as long as you don't do it every day. But you do deserve a treat every once in a while!
- Drink water throughout the day. Do you go for 8 hours straight, from work to class to your club meeting to work again? Bring a water bottle with you to make sure you stay hydrated, alert -- and healthy.
- Don't go long periods without eating. Running around all day, only to realize you haven't eaten in a long time, isn't good for your body. It also may increase the likelihood that you'll eat what's first available, instead of the food and nutrients your body needs. If you know you have a long day coming, pack some snacks ahead of time so your body has the fuel it needs to keep up with that big, college-educated brain of yours.
Check out some of these websites for DORM WORKOUTS
Stress is something you will experience in college no matter what. Stress can be a good thing in moderation. It helps us get things done. However, it can go badly wrong if you do not know how to handle it appropriately. Listen to your body, and know when it gets to be too much. Here are some healthy ways to deal with it:
1. Don't Stress About Being Stressed
If you're stressed out, admit it and figure out how to handle it. Focusing on it will only make things seem worse.
2. Sleep
Getting more sleep can help your mind refocus, recharge, and rebalance. This can mean a quick nap, a night when you go to bed early, or a promise to yourself to stick with a regular sleep schedule. Sometimes, one good night's sleep can be all you need to hit the ground running amidst a stressful time.
3. Eat Healthy
Think about what and when you've eaten over the past few days. You may think your stress is psychological, but you could also be feeling physical stress if you're not fueling your body appropriately. Go eat something balanced and healthy: fruits and veggies, whole grains, protein.
4. Exercise
Not only is working out a good outlet for your frustrations, it also keeps your body healthy enough to fight the stress.
5. Have Some Quiet Time
Take some time for yourself and relax. Sometimes too much going on makes us feel overwhelmed.
6. Socialize
Don't forget that your brain is like a muscle, and even it needs a break every once in a while! Having a social life is an important part of your college experience, so don't be afraid to keep it in the picture when you're stressed.
7. Have a Little Fun
If there is a way to make what you are doing a little more enjoyable, then do it! Create a study group with friends, reward yourself for accomplishing goals, or find your own fun source of motivation.
8. Manage your Time
Figure out all the things you need to accomplish and prioritize. Do not be afraid to take a step back from the things that are not as important, like co-curricular activities.
9. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Help
It can be hard to ask for help, and unless your friends are psychic, they may not know how stressed out you are. Most college students are going through the same things at the same thing, so don't feel silly if you need to just vent for 30 minutes over coffee with a friend. It may help you process out what you need to do, and help you realize that the things you are so stressed about are actually pretty manageable.
10. Keep Things in Perspective
Chances are one test is not going to make or break your entire college career. Work as hard as you can, but do not think that it is the end of the world if you do not get a perfect grade. Instead, learn from your mistakes and keep peace of mind.
Homesickness
Homesickness is a common thing in college. If you are experiencing it, do not feel like you are the only one. Moving away from friends and family can be very hard. Make sure that you stay connected with the people you love back home, but do not let this interfere with your new life in college. Making friends and keeping yourself occupied with a fun experience will help the process.
1. Call home. This may sound like common sense, but it can really help. The key factor, however, is not to call home all of the time. Don't call more than once a day, and keep the conversation positive. But if you miss your friends, family, boyfriend, or girlfriend, giving them a call can sometimes help ease the heartache.
2. Go visit home -- once. Visiting home can be a great way to recharge yourself and get some of that TLC (not to mention home cooking) that you need. But going home too often can frequently make homesickness worse. Let yourself go home when you need it, but make sure it doesn't turn into an every-weekend occurrence.
3. Go out with your college friends. Sometimes, a night out with your college friends can do wonders for homesickness. It can take your mind off of things back home, can help you relax and have a good time, and can reinforce relationships that will make your school feel like home sometime soon.
4. Call a friend from back home. Chances are that your group of friends spread out as each of you went to different colleges. And chances are that your group of friends is missing each other. Give a friend from home a call and catch up for a little while. It may do wonders for your homesickness to just touch base for a quick phone call.
5. Get out of your room. It's incredibly easy to hide in your room in college. But doing so prevents you from meeting new people, trying new things, and experiencing college life in general. You didn't go to school to hide in your room, right? Make sure to spend large chunks of your time out of your room -- even if it's just at a campus coffee shop, the quad, or the library -- and get your mind on other things. You never know what might happen, but you do know that it won't happen if you're alone in your room all the time.
