As students, we tend to neglect our bodies when it comes to our health and wellness. While this might be okay in the short term, it’s important to take care of yourself even if you don’t feel like it.
Otherwise, your academic performance might suffer in the long run, not to mention you won’t be able to enjoy life or participate in class or campus activities as much as you would like.
The do’s and don’ts of staying healthy as a student will help keep you feeling good throughout your four (or more) years at school.
DO get enough sleep
Sleep is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy.
Students are often overloaded with work, school, and extracurricular activities. It is easy to become so exhausted that sleep becomes irrelevant.
However, it is imperative to get at least eight hours of sleep every night.
There are many natural remedies for sleeplessness, such as taking Melatonin an hour before bedtime or drinking herbal tea before bed.
Drink plenty of water: Drinking water has many health benefits. For example, it will help regulate your body temperature in hot weather, flush out toxins in your system, and make sure you don’t overeat because of dehydration.
DO eat breakfast
Eating breakfast is important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels throughout the day. If you’re running late for school, pack an egg or toast sandwich to eat on your way out.
Eggs are rich in protein, which will keep you feeling full until lunchtime, and toast is an easy way to get some carbohydrate rich foods into your diet.
DON’T skip meals
It can be easy to skip meals when you’re busy or not hungry. Skipping meals can lead to overeating later on, which can make you feel worse.
Always remember that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You should have at least one healthy meal per day, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The healthiest thing to eat would be fresh fruits or vegetables because they contain lots of vitamins and nutrients that are good for your body. You also want to drink water throughout the day so your body stays hydrated.
DO exercise
Exercising is one way to stay healthy. It can boost your mood, help relieve stress, strengthen your bones, improve your sleep, reduce the risk of illness, and lower blood pressure.
Exercise also helps with weight management by increasing metabolism.
However, before exercising you should always warm up with five minutes of light exercise such as walking or stretching.
Wear appropriate clothing for the activity and make sure to drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
DON’T party too hard
It can be tempting to go out with friends on the weekends, but don’t forget that you have classes to attend on Monday.
If you’re partying too hard in the week, it will show when you try to study for your test the next day.
Furthermore, if you keep up this behavior, your grades will decline and eventually they’ll drop below the minimum requirement for graduation.
DO take breaks
It is important to take breaks while studying. This will help you keep your energy up and you will be able to focus better on the task at hand.
You can take breaks by going for a walk, listening to music, meditating, or eating healthy snacks.
Taking care of yourself is also very important so make sure you are getting enough sleep every night.
Make time for yourself every day so that you can have time to relax and enjoy life outside of school.
DON’T forget to relax
Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Some people get so caught up in their studies that they don’t give themselves time for leisure or downtime.
Remember to relax, even if it’s just for 10 minutes in the evening before bed or during your lunch break.
If you don’t have time to do anything else, at least make sure you’re drinking water every day, taking breaks from your workstation, and finding ways to reduce stress.
DO stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is key to staying healthy when you’re busy with your studies.
There are many ways to stay hydrated, but my favorite is sipping on ice water in between classes.
When you have time, make sure to drink cold water – it will get into your system faster than warm or room temperature water.
Keep an eye on the color of your urine: if it’s dark yellow, that means you’re dehydrated and need more fluids.
DON’T neglect your mental health
Stress is one of the biggest factors that can lead to poor physical and mental health.
It’s important to manage stress in any way you can, whether it be through exercise, meditation or simply taking some time for yourself.
You’ll have enough on your plate as a student, so don’t make things worse by neglecting your mental health.
Keep up with your vaccinations:
Every year there are certain vaccines that are recommended for all students under 18 years old to receive.
Talk to your doctor about what vaccines you may need, and remember to keep up-to-date with those yearly shots!
DO see a doctor when you’re feeling ill
If you’re feeling ill, the first thing you should do is see a doctor. If you are diagnosed with an illness, get treatment right away. Otherwise, make sure to stay hydrated and eat healthy foods when possible.
Don’t drink alcohol:
Drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration. Drink lots of water instead. Avoid going out in public if you have a cold:
If you go out in public when you have a cold, it will only spread to others more quickly because germs live on surfaces for at least 24 hours after being deposited there by someone who has coughed or sneezed nearby.
