How to Stay Healthy While at College

The first year at college is probably the toughest year when it comes to adjusting your lifestyle to fit the needs of this grueling new atmosphere. These are some tried and tested tips from what I learned my first year.

Make a schedule. Write in everything that is concrete and set in time, like classes, work shifts, and club meetings. Consider when you might like to study and eat and maybe write those maybe in a different color. Routines are sadly predictable but help keep you organized. Plus, once you make a good group of friends it's easier to know that dinner is at 6 or whatever. When that is all mapped out, look at the down times. In between classes, can you go to the workout center and just walk on the treadmill? Or do you need to get everything done and workout in the evenings? Maybe a brief walk in the morning is all you can afford. Whatever it is, make some kind of plan. You don't have to stick to with tenacity but it helps to have that guide in front of you, especially if you're a commuter student.

Speaking of gyms, if your school has one, use it! I remember being timid and not wanting to go unless I had a group with me. I'm five foot seven with a slightly bigger build than most girls and I hated being on the treadmill just walking next to track stars who were getting in their regular runs. Eventually I stopped focusing on them and started focusing on me, not worrying about being better than them but improving myself. You're probably paying for your gym somehow, so don't be afraid to go in there. If you're school doesn't have a gym, a lot of local workout centers offer a discounted rate to students. If you can't afford a gym, Seventeen.com offers loads of workout videos that you can do right at home.

My mother says "every little bit helps" at least three times daily. Consider this as a mantra when on campus. Take the stairs over the elevator or if you are coming back from an outing, park a little farther than you would normally and walk a little extra. I don't recommend this if it's at night and if you have any doubts at all about your safety. Never take that risk. But the point is, if you can walk instead of drive, go for it. For study breaks, go for a walk around campus with maybe another friend who feels restless.

Eat some sort of breakfast and have regularly scheduled meals. This will hopefully help prevent grazing and severe amounts of snacking throughout the day. If you're worried about the amount of school work you have, maybe take your food to go or if your cafeteria is quieter at a certain point, bring some work in with you. There is nothing wrong with snacks but you won't get all your nutrition from it, so use your meal plan.

Balance your sweets intake. I know that at my school, we have an ice cream machine and "Sundae Sunday" which can throw anyone's diet off. As long as you're not having desserts with every meal, there shouldn't be a problem. But if you are worried about it, maybe set up a rewards system. If you make it through a particularly tough week, treat yourself. There's no shame in having what you want as long as you have it in moderation. Life is too short to deny yourself what you really want.

Keep hand sanitizer with you. Diseases spread like wildfire on campus. While the idea of school shutting down for a swine flu outbreak might sound pretty darn appealing, it is your health that is at stake.

Buy a water bottle. I don't know if they still have them, but I bought my stainless steel one from Old Navy for five dollars. Target has some as well. Water will keep you full and hydrated. Plus, buying a water bottle saves the cost of continuously buying plastic water bottles. If you're like me and cannot stand just having plain water everyday, buy some single serving flavoring from Snapple or Crystal Light. A lot of them are low calorie and parents will probably not mind throwing them into care packages.

When gearing up for long study sessions, try high fiber snacks that will fill you up, like popcorn or Fiber One granola bars. Forgo the simple sugar rush and instead focus on complex carbs. This article from Purdue University offers the best explanation as to why sugar rushes are not as productive as once thought.

At least try six hour energy shots in place of sodas, coffee, and energy drinks. If you don't like it, it's not your fault. But they are a lot lower in calorie. Caffeine pills are another low calorie option but I wouldn't recommend them unless you are desperate. Again, focus more on eating well. A simple rule of thumb is try for lots of color! Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are your best bet. They'll make you feel better as well.

Late night trips to IHop or getting fourthmeal at Taco Bell are going to happen. Never miss an opportunity to socialize with friends because of diet concerns. Some of the best memories from my first semester involve a small group of friends sitting around Steak and Shake burgers at like midnight, talking about everything and anything. If you don't overdo the trips, it shouldn't be a problem. Again, moderation is key. And if you are concerned, still go but just get water or a small soft drink.

Napping is both an art and a science. If you are caffeine dependent, there will be the occasional follow-up crash. The best way to nap is to take one in between a half hour and a full hour. Anything more than that is probably going to make you more tired. If you try your best to keep active, there is nothing wrong with resting up.

Have a great first year!