6 Ways To Kickstart A Healthy Lifestyle In College

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In the excitement of packing and leaving home, orientation and adjusting to university life, an exercise and diet regimen can easily fall by the wayside. Physical education and team sports are not built in to the daily schedule like they are in high school, so it is up to the student to start building their own fitness and nutrition habits. It will be harder than you think, college has lots of distractions. There are never-ending opportunities to make excuses, you will consistently have to choose your own health; so if you start making exercise and mindful eating a habit from the beginning of your college career, maintaining it in adulthood a lot easier. You will never have more free time and fewer obligations than you do now, so if you make time to have a healthy lifestyle in college, you set yourself up for choosing a healthy lifestyle as an adult. It is really not emphasized enough, especially with all of the social events and midnight snacks with friends in your future.

Eating well and exercising regularly has many benefits, but one not mentioned often is it increases your self-esteem, and during this very transformative, vulnerable and significant time when you are discovering who you are as a person and a future professional, self-esteem is paramount, and taking care of yourself if an act of self-love. If you develop or maintain self-esteem in college it will help you focus on your studies, evaluate your interests and direction you'd like to take in life, and above all will significantly improve the quality of your social experiences. All this being said, here are a few ways to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle in school:

Get Into An Exercise Routine

This is a good time to figure out what kind of exercise you enjoy: is it weight lifting, running, cycling, swimming, boxing, yoga, work out classes? Do you want to join an intramural sports team? Perhaps all of the above? Experiment, see what exercise you enjoy the most, and get in a routine of exercising a few times a week. Use it as a study break, or something to do first thing in the morning so you can focus on the rest of the day.

Find Work Out Buddies

Turn a work out into a hang out. Find some running buddies, someone to go to a workout class with you or the gym. It's a great way to hold yourself accountable while spending time with a friend doing a healthy, productive activity.

Go To The Grocery Store

You're less likely to order take out or reach for unhealthy food at the dining hall if you stock your dorm room with healthy snacks like fruit, vegetables and nuts. Healthy snacks help manage your metabolism and keep your nutrition on track. It will also help you save money, and manage your dining hall meals.


Look For Vegetables And Fiber Rich Foods

The dining hall will be filled with lots fattening and unhealthy food, and it will he tempting to give in to your worst instincts, especially if many of your friends are eating things like pizza. Make a habit of hitting the salad bar first, and fill your plate with vegetables and lean proteins like chicken and fish. According to the Harvard School of Health, eating vegetables and fiber rich foods such as fruit and avocado will help keep your diet on track.

Grab Fruit To Go

There is almost always a fruit bowl at the door in the dining hall, make sure and grab some as you walk out. Why pay twice for food you've already paid for? Stock up in the dining hall on snack foods that keep well and are nutritious, like fruits and nuts and get your money's worth for your meal.

Drink Lots Of Water

Skip sugary drinks like soda or juice for water, to help maintain your metabolism and to ensure you are hydrated, especially if you are consuming salty foods or alcohol. It also helps manage your weight, and assists with skin issues.


I’m a twentysomething freelance journalist, writer and blogger in New York City. I write about everything I’ve done wrong as a twentysomething woman here in the trenches. Take my advice at your own risk.