5 Healthy Habits For Happy And Successful College Freshmen

Starting college is far from easy. For the first time in your life, you’re expected to live almost completely independently, juggling classes, friends, meetings, studying, homework, and nights out all on your own. You also have to take control of your own health and do what you can to prevent illness, boost your energy levels, and improve your mood. Of course, with bad habits and temptation everywhere you turn this can be difficult, but if you pick up these five healthy habits, you should find yourself a happier and more successful college freshman.

1. Sleep Properly Every Night

College students are notoriously busy people, but that doesn't mean that you should have to sacrifice your sleep. Staying up late finishing a paper or staying out all night partying might seem like a good idea in the moment, but it will leave you feeling exhausted, stressed, and utterly miserable. It’s vital that sleep is always your priority, and that you do whatever you need to do to ensure you get at least eight hours each night. You can start by sticking to a regular bedtime.

2. Remember To Eat Healthily

With so much on your plate, eating properly sometimes seems impossible, but it’s important that you ensure you maintain a nutritious and balanced diet. Instead of snacking throughout the day or ordering pizza while you’re studying, take a break and go and cook yourself a real meal. As busy as you are, you need to keep your energy levels up, and this won’t happen if you’re skipping meals, eating empty carbs, and relying on caffeine to keep your awake.

3. Visit The Health Clinic

Whether you feel unwell or not, you need to ensure you take wellness trips to the health clinic on campus. After all, you’re not a doctor yourself, and might not have noticed that something is actually wrong. You should also ensure you visit a dentist, optician, and audiologist on a regular basis, as you might need glasses, ite hearing aids, or a simple clean and polish. These regular checkups mean you can spot problems early and stop them from getting any worse.

4. Use On-Campus Support

Being a college freshman can be a struggle. You need to learn to stay organized, manage your time better, get all of your assignments done, and deal with stress and homesickness. If you try to bottle all of this up, it can be incredibly damaging, so it’s crucial that you get some support. Thankfully, most schools offer this on campus, in the form of counsellors. You should also lean on your professors and friends when you need to.

5. Do Exercise You Enjoy

Everyone knows that exercise is important for physical and mental health, but that doesn’t make it seem any more appealing. Unless you find a fun exercise to do, physical activity is always going to feel like a chore, so make sure you look for a workout you actually enjoy. This could be swimming, a dance class, cycling, yoga, or something else. You could also take a few friends along with you and turn it into a bonding activity.

Freshman year can be a tough one, but with the tips above, you should find yourself a happier and more successful student.