Stay Well This School Year
Whether you’re in high school or college, school keeps you going at 100 miles an hour completing assignments, getting involved in extracurricular activities, keeping up with your friends, then racing towards the home stretch of finals.
Health and wellness is vital to your success and sanity in school (and in life), but it’s not just about dieting or exercising x number of times a day. The key to staying healthy is taking care of your body, mind, and emotions — and you can do this by building healthy habits that will set you up for success. Here’s a few you can start with:
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1. Back to the basics: sleep, eat, exercise, repeat.
No crazy diets or tricks here – it’s the basic habits that are so vital to keeping your body healthy. Give your body the sleep it needs — about 6-8 hours — every single night (all-nighters sound like a good idea but they are so hard on your body AND mind). If you have to stay up late and cram for a test, plan some time the next day to take a quick nap.
It’s often hard to find healthy food in the cafeteria or when you’re on a budget, but it’s possible. Look for fresh fruits in your school’s cafeteria like apples, oranges, and bananas. Limit sodas and stay hydrated with lots of water.
If you’re on a campus, choose to walk instead of drive to class. Find a physical activity that you enjoy and can do regularly.
And guess what? Healthy habits aren’t just about avoiding sickness, though that is important. Sleep, exercise, and healthy food fuel your brain and keep you mentally and emotionally healthy, too.
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2. Don’t spread yourself too thin.
There are so many activities, people, and assignments pulling you every direction. The key is finding the right balance for you — prioritizing what is most important, planning ahead, and finding time to do the things you enjoy (using a planner is a great idea).
Overcommitting is easy to do, but will only create unnecessary stress because you just can’t do it all. In fact, when you spread yourself too thin you won’t be able to do anything well.
Identity how much time you realistically have to give to your schoolwork, your extracurricular activities, and your relationships. Don’t be afraid to say no.
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3. Take care of your emotional health.
Family Doctor says people who have good emotional health are “aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They have learned healthy ways to cope with the stress and problems that are a normal part of life. They feel good about themselves and have healthy relationships.”
How do you cope with stress during the school year? One way to combat that is by surrounding yourself with healthy relationships.
Choose a few close friends that encourage you, have your back, and push you to be a better person. Avoid toxic relationships and dramatic people, which only brings unnecessary stress to your life.
The beginning of the school year is a great time to evaluate your routine, habits, and priorities. This week, commit to keep yourself healthy and well by building solid habits that will last a lifetime.
We’re rooting for you and want to see you succeed this semester. Take the time to take care of yourself!
