Achieving Your Healthiest Lifestyle as a College Student

(Photo by Ashley Britton)

As a current senior in college, I can say from experience that I know how difficult it can be to try to feel balanced in life. Even after three years, I still struggle with maintaining a healthy lifestyle that works best for me, because I’m constantly discovering new things about what I like and dislike, what calms me or makes my anxiety skyrocket, and so on.

But I’ve also learned that all of this is okay because I’m human and I’m changing, so not everything will work or stay permanently. And most importantly, I can’t force myself to make something work without wasting a bunch of my energy.

If you truly want to change your routine and lifestyle at college to feel your best self, I’ve gathered some ideas that have worked for me in the past:

Start With YouTube

A quick and easy way to help you find ideas about switching up your lifestyle is to watch YouTube videos posted by other college students, such as the “Day in my Life in College” ones. From these videos, I’ve learned about new tips and tricks on balancing my schedule, eating healthy recipes, and staying mentally healthy. There’s so many different accounts to choose from posting this content (and if you can find a YouTuber from your own school, the better!) but some that I’d recommend are Danielle Carolan, Paige Kaiser, and Gretchen Geraghty.

Get Physical!

Don’t roll your eyes just yet, because fitness and exercise are known to be extremely beneficial for your mental health. If you’re having one of the worst days, let out your emotions by running on the treadmill or beating those ab-crunching routines. (Pro tip: invest in a fitness tracker to see your progress and use it as a motivator. I absolutely LOVE my Apple Watch, but Fitbit is also great too).

If you need more of a strict routine for your workout, go to YouTube and find any workout video that’s at least 15 minutes long. Some of my favorite creators for this genre are Natacha Océane, Chloe Ting, and PopSugar Fitness.

(Video by Chloe Ting)

Embrace Your Creative Skills in the Kitchen

(Photo by Minimalist Baker)

Another great tip is to get creative in the kitchen. Try to find new, different recipes that will make you feel your best health-wise and satisfy your stomach at the same time (yes, that is possible). I’ve found making my own meals is significantly so much better and more fun than dragging myself to the dining hall freshman year with little hope that I’d find something remotely edible.

For inspiration on what to make or how to manage a grocery shopping budget, check out this video on meal prepping, this video with delicious recipes under a budget, and this list of more recipe ideas.

Write It Down

College has been some of the hardest four years of my life. With always having more than five things to do for classes, and then ten more things unrelated to school on top of that, it’s safe to say that I’ve had moments where I’m almost at my breaking point.

However, what I’ve discovered that helps me in these times is writing in my journal. I’ve never religiously used one before coming to college, but being able to freely write my thoughts or emotions down helps clear my mind and drain out anything bothering me. Plus, there’s absolutely no rules with journals, so you can choose to rant, storytell your day, bullet journal, or even write poetry, and each will still help you feel better in the end.

Healthy Life = Healthy Mind

If there’s one thing I cannot stress enough, it’s mental health. I wish I could travel to the past and shake freshman year me by the shoulders to remind her to take a break from studying and treat herself more often. It’s so easy to become consumed by your schedule and class projects, but you also need to prioritize “you time,” because YOU are just as important. When scheduling time for yourself, think about what calms you down or helps alleviate stress. Step outside to read a book, or take a short walk with a friend. I’ve recently started to FaceTime my friends from home on my daily walks because it’s the perfect amount of time to catch up on our lives, and talking to people I care about helps me to feel comfortable.

Another great idea is to treat yourself with a spa day: put on a new nail polish color, buy an insane amount of face masks from CVS, stock up on your favorite candles, or take a quick bath.

What are some of your recommendations for maintaining that balanced and healthy lifestyle in college? Tell me about them in the comments!