10 Ways to Keep Yourself Healthy at University

10 Ways to Keep Yourself Healthy at University

• Register with a doctor. Register with a local GP as soon as you get on campus. It’s better to have already registered and know you can go there before you’re in too much pain to locate a doctor.

• Register with a dentist. Similarly, register with a local dentist unless you can go back home on a regular basis. It is common for there to be a waiting list, so don’t be surprised! Make sure you have a search around before panicking.

• Put together an emergency first aid kit before you go to uni! Along with your toothbrush and laptop, make sure you pack a couple plasters, some painkillers, antiseptic cream, and anything else you feel you might need in your first aid kit.

• Think about what you’re going to eat. We’ve all been there, student budgets and time limitations don’t go well with healthy eating! It’s easy to be tempted to leave on takeout, please don’t! Your diet is one of the main components to a healthy lifestyle. Make sure you do a big shop every week in order to stock up on your essentials and plan ahead. There’s always time to fit in a proper breakfast, your 5 a day, protein and carbs if you plan ahead. Keep yourself hydrated every day with 2L of water throughout the day.

• Locate university support services. If you need support at university, whether you’re struggling with mental health problems, a disability, academic pressure or anything else you’re struggling with, please don’t think your alone at university. There will be many routes to seek support, starting with your personal tutor or any support services available, in which you’ll be guided to counsellors or whoever else for appropriate help.

• Get some exercise. We understand- maybe its hard to fit in the daily gym trip when you have workload and social life to maintain, but exercise is necessary to sustain good health, whether it be physical or mental health. Instead of going to the gym alone, you could join a sports society for regular sports sessions, suggest a jog with flatmates or even find a gym buddy on campus! You’ll find your days better and easier when your health is improved!

• Schedule in sleep. There are only so many nights out followed by going straight to your 9am lectures that one can do. You will need sleep in order to maintain a healthy university lifestyle. Maybe miss out on the occasional night out to give your body the nourishment that it needs, allowing your immune system to produce vital hormones and bump up the white blood cells.

• Manage your stress! Uni workload can get tough, so make time for yourself. Between work, make sure your organise time to spend with some flatmates, get a coffee, go on a walk or watch your favourite TV show to keep you balanced and productive, instead of feeling overwhelmed with work.

• Manage your time. Its essential to prioritise and manage your time at uni. If you want to stay on top of your health, its important to plan your time so you’re not up at abnormal hours surviving on energy drinks trying to meet your deadlines. Make time for healthy means, exercise, workload and social life.

• Get fresh air and daylight. Some days will be bad days, and without parents around to push you out of the house, it’s likely that you wont get enough exposure to daylight and fresh air. Daylight boosts vitamin D and improves your mood, improving your general health and lifestyle. This can be done by an easy quick walk between lectures or library sessions.