10 Daily Actions to Foster a Healthy Lifestyle in College

While the typical college lifestyle isn't always conducive to maintaining healthy habits, these tips can help steer any busy college student in the right direction.

College is a time for self-discovery, learning new things, and pursuing new passions. While the typical college lifestyle isn't always conducive to maintaining healthy habits, these tips can help steer any busy college student in the right direction. 

1. Make room for superfoods

What do frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, processed cheese, and instant ramen noodles have in common? Many college students consider these the four main food groups. Although they might taste great, these foods are filled with saturated fat, sodium, and refined carbs with very little nutritional value. Choosing only unhealthy foods can zap your energy and weaken your immune system.

Incorporate some superfoods into your diet to help counteract some of the damage. They are the perfect companion for busy college students because they pack a powerful punch of vital nutrients that are beneficial to physical and mental well-being. Walnuts, kale, salmon, berries, beans, and whole grains are just a few superfoods that provide your body with energy and help keep you healthy. Try to include a daily dose of one type of superfood (or more!) and your body will thank you as you push to perform during the school year.

2. Drink plenty of water

Juggling homework, friendships, class schedules, and part-time jobs makes drinking enough water low on the priority list of many overloaded college students. We know water has vast health benefits that affect every cell in our bodies. Try these strategies for staying adequately hydrated throughout the day: make a habit of toting a water bottle with you to class, sip on water during meals, and snack on water-rich foods (like cucumber, zucchini, watermelon, and grapefruit). How can you keep track of your water intake throughout the day? There's an app for that! Waterlogged and Hydro Coach are two examples of popular (and free) apps that make getting your daily dose of H20 fun and easy.

3. Find time for yourself

The high-energy environment of college can make it difficult to find much-needed alone time to decompress, unwind, and reflect on your life experiences. From sharing close quarters with roommates to spending days studying with classmates, you won’t get many moments to yourself. Despite enjoying many laughs and new adventures, you may also feel depleted of energy and downright stressed. Try to find time for yourself every day to rest and recharge. Go to a quiet space and process and reflect upon the day. Taking a time-out also builds confidence—it can give you a sense of independence and help you discover where your interests and passions may lie.

Related: 5 Ways to Find Alone Time in College

4. Get a full night's sleep

With the balancing act of juggling classes, homework, social obligations, and study groups, what student has time for sleep? The "I'll sleep when I'm dead" philosophy doesn't come without consequences, and college students are notoriously one of the most sleep-deprived groups. Sleep deprivation can lead to a decreased ability to concentrate, impaired memory, and a diminished ability to learn new information. Incorporate various strategies to get enough rest. Try to limit caffeine after 3:00 pm, practice time management with respect to schoolwork, and minimize sleep disruptions.

Of course, late nights coupled with those pesky 8:00 am classes can sometimes make getting a full night of sleep out of reach. Here's where napping may be the answer to your sleepy prayers. When running on empty, a power nap might be just what you need to rejuvenate your mind and body. But beware: sleeping longer than 30 minutes can backfire on you by increasing your fatigue and making it more difficult to fall asleep at bedtime.

5. Take care of your skin

Long showers and the dry heat of the dorms can do a number on your skin. Maintaining a proper skin care routine can help you achieve a healthy glow and keep common skin issues at bay. Cleansing and moisturizing are the essential first steps in any effective skin care routine. Be sure to use sunscreen every day to protect your skin from sun damage. Always remove makeup before going to bed. And don’t forget that water bottle—proper hydration is key to healthy-looking skin.

6. Exercise

Simply put, your body was meant to move. Despite having a full plate of responsibilities, make it a top priority to get some form of exercise on a daily basis. The benefits of physical activity are immediate and long term and include increased focus and attention, improved mood, and decreased stress. Exercise doesn't have to take up a huge portion of your already-busy day, or even take place in a gym or studio. Take a daily walk, dance to your favorite tunes, utilize one of the many fitness apps out there, or take a physical education class for credit.

7. Eat regular meals

Packed schedules, tight budgets, and lack of cooking facilities and tools create the perfect storm for skipping meals. But eating three meals a day (with healthy ingredients) is important for fueling your body so it can be at its best.

Related: How to Eat Healthy in College on the Cheap

8. Keep a journal

How does journaling help our minds and in turn our bodies? When we give ourselves the freedom to write down our life experiences, mental blocks are often removed, which fosters a better understanding of oneself, relationships with friends and family, and the world around you. Journaling allows you to clarify your thoughts and feelings and in turn enhances your problem-solving skills all while helping relieve stress.

9. Find healthy ways to de-stress

Eating copious amounts of junk food, partying all night, and overspending on frivolous items may be ways to de-stress in college, but they are certainly not the healthiest. Being in a constant state of stress takes its toll on you emotionally and physically, which makes finding healthy ways to de-stress that much more important. Watch your favorite movie, take a walk, or find a new hobby to decompress.

10. Reach out to a friend or loved one

It's ironic that you can be around people constantly and still feel completely isolated. Your college community may take some time to feel like home. While the transition from home to college is an exciting one, it doesn't come without some yearning for real friends and family that know you on a deeper level. Having reliable and genuine friendships is imperative to your well-being and can ward off feelings of loneliness. Reach out to a friend or family member on a daily basis to help diminish the natural feelings of homesickness and make for a smoother transition to college life.

Related: 7 Simple Ways to Ease Your Homesickness in College

Maintaining your health in college requires a holistic approach that addresses your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. With these simple tips, you can stay healthy and maintain your energy level, helping you succeed during your college years.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About Ana Reisdorf, RD

Ana Reisdorf is a Licensed Dietician and Writer for Walgreens

Although it is intended to be accurate, neither Walgreen Co., its subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any other party assumes for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. Walgreens does not recommend or endorse any products, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in the article. Reliance on any information provided by this article is solely at your own risk.

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID


Daniel Ogunlokun

Daniel Ogunlokun

High School Class of 2022

When I started looking at colleges in the beginning of my senior year, I was conflicted about which ones I wanted to attend based on safety, tuition costs, location, academic rigor, and prestige. Searching the internet and getting more questions than answers, I came across CollegeXpress, which made all the steps I had taken look like a minor issue. Everything was summarized and detailed, and I couldn't be more thankful and appreciative.

Cameron Lee

Cameron Lee

High School Class of 2022

I used CollegeXpress to search for colleges. It helped me narrow down the schools on the West Coast and which schools had Construction Engineering programs. I made my decision to go to OSU and I am so excited about it.

Sadie Hartmann

Sadie Hartmann

High School Class of 2021

I'm a senior in high school, and CollegeXpress has helped me in so many ways this year in trying to navigate the process of deciding and committing to a university. The COVID-19 Student Resource Center has helped me many times with the most up-to-date and accurate information, along with financial aid and student life [advice]. During these uncertain times, CollegeXpress has been a great recourse to relieve the stress as a senior. Along with the COVID-19 Student Resource Center, I'm constantly using the extremely helpful tools off the site to aid me during this stressful process. Tools like the lists and rankings of universities have been the most beneficial. I've also used the site to receive expert advice on topics like financial aid. Finally, CollegeXpress has helped me easily apply for several scholarships. I'm thankful to be given the chance to win a scholarship to lessen the burden of my college debt.

Brooke Maggio

Brooke Maggio

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress has helped me tremendously in my college search in narrowing down the schools I’m interested in. Using the college search tool, I was able to narrow down my choices to schools that matched what I was looking for. I also used CollegeXpress for their scholarship search, which helped me find scholarships that I meet the requirements of.

Ruth Aguilar

Ruth Aguilar

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me by providing me with many scholarship opportunities and information about universities I want to attend. What I love about CollgeXpress is how it provides a variety of information, and as the first child attending a university next year, it has been very essential and helpful. I’m so grateful for this because the information provided by CollegeXpress has also helped me see that there are so many college opportunities, and it always informs me by email. In other words, CollegeXpress has been like a guide for me as a future college student.