Health should always come first, and there is no exception to the rule whilst you’re at university. Of course, if you’re a student, you will likely have a hundred other things going on but keeping healthy helps other aspects of your life to run smoothly, so it’s important to put your health first.
In this blog post, we’ll cover some of the best things you can do to stay healthy during your time at university.
Drink more water
Drinking enough water is often neglected by many people, but it’s the most important thing our bodies need. It’s surprising how much better you can feel if you are regularly consuming the necessary amount of water.
It’s especially important to drink more water if you have a heavy night out, as you’ll often be dehydrated and need to replace the fluids lost the night before. Limiting your alcohol intake is another way of staying healthy whilst at university. Of course, it’s important to enjoy yourself and have an active social life, but drinking too much can have a seriously negative impact on your health.
Get enough sleep
The amount of sleep you need to feel fresh likely depends on you as an individual, but it is recommended that you get between eight and ten hours of sleep every night. It’s common for students to not get enough sleep, but this can lead to more problems down the line. It can be difficult to maintain a normal sleeping pattern if you have a bustling social life, but it’s important you do your best to get the necessary amount of sleep as it Is vital for your health.
Go to the doctors
No one likes going to the doctors, but it’s something that needs to be done if you aren’t feeling well or are noticing repeated symptoms. Whether you’re having a problem with your physical or mental health, it’s always a good idea to see a GP and get real medical advice. Many students avoid even registering with a GP, but it’s worth doing as it saves you from going back to your hometown if you need to urgently see a doctor. GP’s are often readily available in areas near student houses, so there’s usually no issue in terms of accessibility.
Open up if you’re struggling
There’s no denying that being a student can be incredibly stressful and it’s important to share how you are feeling with others. Whether you open up to your house mates, family, friends, or a medical professional – the important thing is that you can share how you feel if you’re feeling down.
Eat healthily
As a student, it can be tempting to eat large amounts of fast food that is quick and easy, but this kind of food is often unhealthy and isn’t going to provide you with the nutritional value that you need. Keeping a balanced diet will help you feel better throughout your daily life and will give you more energy whilst allowing you to concentrate on your studies better.
There are plenty of healthy alternatives, but it may require a little more preparation when it comes to deciding what you are going to have to eat.
Prepare meals
It can be tempting to just buy food as and when you get hungry, but this is often more expensive and can lead you into bad eating habits. Meal preparing is the best way of saving you money, plus it helps you maintain a balanced diet more easily. Prepping meals can be time consuming, but it is better in the long run, and you will thank yourself when your bank account looks healthier come the end of the week!
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise helps to improve both your mental and physical health, so it’s important you get yourself moving! Whether you are part of a sports team or just do a daily jog for 15 minutes, as long as you are exercising regularly, you will start to feel the benefits. If you’re someone who doesn’t like exercising alone, ask one of your house mates if they fancy doing it together, and you can turn your exercise into a social activity.
Stay organised and plan ahead
It might seem obvious but staying organised and having a clear plan of what your week or month looks like can help to make stressful periods more manageable. Organisation can also allow you to be more productive and keep track of everything you need to do.
These are just examples of ways you can keep healthy whilst at university, but there are plenty of other things you can do to ensure you’re keeping well whilst living your student life to the fullest.
