During my first year at college, I found myself focusing more on my school work and the need to get good grades rather than taking care of myself. I had forgotten what a normal routine looked like, because I was so focused on everything else.
I wasn’t doing anything for myself. I got so caught up in trying to be “perfect” regarding school, that I wasn’t doing the things that make me happy. I also wasn’t giving my body the care that it needed.
When I was a senior in high school, I was going to the gym three to four times a week. When I got to college, I just stopped going. To me, the gym would have been time taken away from my school work.
Even though a person doesn’t need to go to the gym to be considered healthy, I wasn’t getting any exercise at all. I wasn’t moving my body or working on anything outside of school.
Eventually, I learned that I was not the only one who struggled to keep up healthy habits in college. I have found that many college students can struggle with finding a healthy lifestyle and routine. Many freshmen struggle with maintaining a healthy diet and exercise when arriving at college.
Not only is being active important for someone’s physical health, but exercising impacts a person’s mental health as well.
When I was struggling to be active, I set little goals for myself. Based on my experience, simply going for a walk on campus once a week can be beneficial in the long run. It can make you feel motivated to do other things and start taking better care of yourself.
I started going for walks on campus until it turned into something that I did nearly everyday. This was a better routine than staying in my dorm glued to my computer for hours on end.
It only takes the right motivation to get started with your health journey. At the time, this little action may not seem important, but I learned that you have to accept the smaller wins just as much as the bigger ones.
Getting exercise is a part of taking care of the body. I have learned that being physically distracted from homework is more beneficial than someone may think. Keeping grades up are important, but overall health is needed to do the best work.
If your body is tired, your work may be sloppy. I know this from experience, because I kept experiencing a cycle of saying that my work was “good enough”. Deep down, I knew it was not my best work. But that is all I had the energy for.
Being energized affects your work ethic better if you are getting the proper rest and exercise. This is something that I have had to learn the hard way. The same concept applies to fueling your body.
There were many days where I came back to my dorm and went back to sleep after my class. Whenever I ate out, I would eat food that was convenient for me. I didn’t have to go far to get it. I wasn’t trying to get the nutrition that I need. I love eating junk food, but it became a consistent thing. I wasn’t setting goals for my eating habits, because of that I wasn’t getting the proper nutrition I needed. Getting a degree takes hard work, but it also takes energy and consistency.
When I wasn’t getting the nutrition that I needed, I could feel the difference that it made in my school work. I noticed myself being more tired, and it made me less motivated to do my homework. I overworked myself and did not balance out my school work and health.
When I began to take my health more seriously, I could tell the difference in my physical and mental health. I began to want to do things for myself, and it created a huge impact on my schoolwork.
In my experience, I have learned that taking care of yourself in college is more important than any school work. While school work is important, it should not consume anyone. Drawing yourself in work only takes a toll on your mental health. Go for a walk, eat dinner, and get some well deserved rest. When you’re rested, the work will turn out that much better. Your brain will thank you for taking a break.
