The New Year is just round the corner, and we imagine many of you have had a thoroughly indulgent festive period, so the time seems right to have a quick look at healthy living.
After all, even if you’re young and vigorous (unlike us), it’s still important to take care of yourself. To help out, then, we’ve come up with six vital student health tips.
1. You Are What You Eat
Eating well is crucial to healthy living, but it’s not something that students are famously good at. There’s a reason for all those cold beans and pot noodle stereotypes.
(Photo: Eptalon/wikimedia)
This is changing, though, with increasing awareness of diet meaning that more students are making an effort to eat healthily. You might even consider trying vegetarianism, which is good for the environment as well as your digestive system!
2. Feel the Burn!
Actually, if you’re feeling the ‘burn’ you might want to rein things in a bit, but regular exercise is important. Try to find time for around 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. You can even work it into your daily routine, if going to the gym doesn’t appeal!
3. It’s Good to Talk
Anxiety and other mental health issues affect most people at some point in their lives. Students can be especially vulnerable, since university can be stressful if you’re struggling to balance your studies, a part-time job and a social life.
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The important things are being aware of your own mental health and not being afraid to seek help if you need it. Your university should have support systems in place for this, though talking to friends, family or your GP when you’re feeling low can also help.
4. Visit the Land of Nod
Sleep is just as important to a healthy lifestyle as diet and exercise. Ideally, you should get between seven and nine hours every night. If this isn’t currently the case, cutting back on caffeine after 3pm and avoiding illuminated screens (phones, tablets, etc.) before bed would be wise.
5. Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll (in Moderation)
While a degree of debauchery is pretty much compulsory in university life, excessive drinking, partying and other things that you wouldn’t want your mother to know about will take their toll. Limiting yourself to going out at the weekends is a good start; if nothing else, it means you won’t have to deal with 9am seminars while eye-wateringly hungover.
Oh, and when it comes to romantic shenanigans, make sure to use protection. If you’re not convinced this is necessary, please browse this gallery of STDs for a bit and have another think.
6. Do Good
This one might sound strange, especially if your schedule is already hectic, but research shows that volunteering counteracts stress, which benefits your physical and mental health. It also lets you try new things and get valuable experience, so there’s plenty to gain from being selfless!