7 Esssential Healthy Living Tips for College Students

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How healthy is your lifestyle?

With all the rush and stressfulness of campus life, students rarely ask themselves this question. Most young people neglect their health in pursuit of success until they finally realize that they are on the wrong path. But acquiring healthy habits during your college years is vital to academic and social success.

Here are some super simple yet effective lifestyle hacks:

1. Never Try to ‘Fit In’

Of course, everyone wants to be the ‘cool kid’. However, how many students consider the price they have to pay for the sake of popularity? From my own experience, so many people end up going down the wrong path just to fit in. They end up partying too hard, or changing their values and beliefs to look normal or cool. But did this make them happier? Probably not, so stop trying to look cool in everyone’s eyes! After all, a great student, as well as a great person, should be identified by one’s character.

So, be sure to stay true to yourself — that’s the best policy for making real friends.

2. Get Enough Rest

Many students pull all-nighters, prefer take-out food to save up some time on cooking, and neglect getting enough rest. With such a busy and intensive pace of life, even young and energetic people start feeling drained, fatigued and apathetic. Eventually, their grades go down, and they become those students who keep missing their deadlines or complete all tasks in a rush, submitting works of poor quality. Ideally, a person needs at least 7 hours of sleep a day, as well as regular study breaks to refresh your brain. Without taking proper care of your mental and physical well-being, you will most likely become unorganized, unfocused, and unmotivated. This can ruin your academic performance and reputation once and forever.

3. Travel

This isn’t a tip you would typically hear, but it does work! There are plenty of scientifically-proven benefits of travel.

While exploring the world, you can learn a lot about who you are, your beliefs, and true wishes. As a result, you can end up more aware, conscious, and wise.

Traveling also helps to instill a sense of gratitude and patience, which are both integral elements of mental well-being. It also helps you to appreciate your own life, especially when you observe struggling people and poverty in other countries.

4. De-Stress

College can be stressful. High levels of stress diminish one’s health and overall wellbeing, thus it is critical to find ways to manage anxiety and stress. For me, the best way to combat stress was through music and arts. Humanity has been long aware of the positive influence of art on a person’s well-being. Other stress-relieving activities include sports, exercise, meditation, reading, or massage.

5. Develop a Fixed Daily Routine

Successful people tend to keep track of their daily tasks and follow specific routines to reduce stress and be productive.

A simple example of a healthy morning ritual includes taking care of your personal hygiene, exercising, and eating a healthy breakfast.

6. Eat a Balanced Diet

The quality of food you consume has a direct impact on your health, productivity, energy, brain functionality, and overall wellbeing. That’s why it is vital to eat a balanced diet. If you don’t have enough time for cooking, try opting for healthy restaurant meals that are rich in proteins and plant-based whole foods instead of ordering pizza or choosing fast food. And pay attention to what you drink. Besides not over imbibing on alcohol, be wary of drinks with too much sugar or caffeine.

7. Keep in Touch with People You Love

Carving out a few minutes to call family, friends, and loved ones is a great way to reduce stress and maintain a healthy mental mindset.

We all need support and communication, especially during particularly stressful times.

Moving away from our families to start a new ‘adult’ life gives us lots of freedom. Without a doubt, being a student is time consuming, but there are many reasons to make time for a regular call home.

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Most students neglect their health, but there are many physical, emotional, academic and social benefits to developing healthy habits while away at college