Staying Healthy at College
Hi everyone! My name is Tayla and I am Lere’s eldest daughter. I am starting my senior year in college, and therefore know firsthand the ups and downs that the college lifestyle can bring. The temptation to succumb to the river of information, scheduling, homework, and activity is ever-present, especially if we are not vigilant against it. Every semester, I have taken a full course load of engineering classes, as well as worked a part time job, so I know how challenging it can be to keep your health in check when there is so much going on. Whether you’re going into your first year or returning back to the grind like the rest of us, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned so far that has helped me stay relatively sane and healthy. Here are some reminders and principles:
Take an active role. You are responsible for your health; the Freshman 15 is not a magical hex placed on you as you enter your dorm room. Realize that every choice you make now will reflect somehow later one, whether visibly in the form of extra fat, or mentally in the form of glitching on a crucial test question.
Remember that your physical health directly impacts your cognitive abilities. That soda you gulped down in a midnight studying spree will leave you with a glorious burst of energy, followed by a sudden inability to even recognize the words you were reading earlier.
Don’t beat yourself up. Treat each day as a new opportunity to improve and do better. Analyze failures, figure out how to avoid them next time, and then go do better.
Once you assimilate those principles, you can start acting on them as you navigate the busy schedules and obligations. Here are some ideas for taking such an active role:
Treat your self-maintenance as scheduled appointments. Plan out the things that will help you recharge by putting them in your schedule; if you had a doctors’ appointment at 3pm, you would tell your friend (or boss) that you’ll have to meet with them another time. Treat your workout time, or sleep time, or meal prep time, in the same way.
Consider practicing intermittent fasting. Fasting has been linked to increases in Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF, aka Miracle-Gro for your brain), and is a great way to protect yourself from the insulin-spiking snacks that abound all around you as you make your way through campus
Behold the power of stew. When I am incredibly busy, I basically subsist off stew. I truly consider it my secret to maintaining a good diet in college. It is the perfect dish for a college student; you chop up meat and vegetables, throw in some broth and whichever spices you like, switch on your slow/pressure cooker, and leave it alone. Go to class, come back, and you have a delicious meal, packed with protein, micronutrients, and electrolytes. You can do this on a Sunday, before classes start, and refrigerate/freeze portions to have throughout the week when the dining hall “food” isn’t cutting it. This can even be done in a dorm room, so no excuses.
Avoid sugar at all costs. It slows down your brain, saps your energy, and keeps you in a fog of confusion when you should be sharp. I often watch in shock as my fellow classmates dose up on soda and MnMs from the vending machine before a challenging lecture. Eat sugar only with friends or in social situations, and don’t stockpile it in your dorm room for stress-eating later (been there, done that, don’t recommend).
Be active beyond the gym. Walk, cycle, or longboard everywhere you can; as freshman are often not allowed to have cars on campus, this is a great way to counteract any negative patterns in eating or sleeping.
Don’t self-isolate. Community is essential to staying physically healthy. Join a club or organization and take it upon yourself to be a light to those around you; you’ll find that you’re never as alone as you might sometimes feel.
Good luck, and I hope that with some focus, drive, and lightheartedness you can enjoy and fully profit from your college years.