In college you are often faced with the majority of the responsibility in your life. You have to feed yourself, get yourself up and dressed, and turn in your work on time. One thing that often gets missed out on in college life is your mental and physical health. Below will be some tips and tricks to help you get ahold of your mental and physical health while in college!
Mental Health: In college your mental health may or may not be challenged. Sometimes college students struggle with seeking help when needed. If you find yourself falling into a mental hole, you can always talk about it with the ODU Counseling Department, an advisor, or even a trusted friend. By talking about your struggles in college and things that are bothering you, it allows you to work through and process what is going on.
To fuel your mind and keep it sharp while in college, you can try meditation, reading books, or journaling your thoughts. By keeping your brain working and flowing you help keep your mental fitness sharp and up to date! At night, I like to reflect on my day in a journal and then listen to some calming music after a long and challenging study session. By resetting my brain and thoughts throughout the day and week, I keep myself fresh and fueled.
Physical Health: We’ve all heard of the freshman 15, it stems from all-you-can-eat buffets and midnight snacking. Maybe you got it, maybe you won’t, but it is more common than you would think! One way to combat this is to make good and healthy choices for yourself. When you go to the dining hall try to find nutrient-rich food and limit the amount of dessert that you consume. Try eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods. By focusing on providing your body with the fuel that it needs, you will be preparing yourself for a healthy lifestyle ahead and set the foundation for your health.
Another fun way to help your physical health is to move your body regularly, I know with online classes I have found myself just sitting at my computer for most of the day! If you get up and take a walk around campus or your neighborhood and find a way to get some fresh air it will help you stay sharp and ready to learn. You can also go to the gym and take a yoga class, cycling class, or even do your own thing on the workout equipment.
My favorite way to fuel my mind and body all at the same time is to get outdoors! When you take a hike, conquer a mountain, or even ride on the trail, you allow yourself to get fresh air, work your body, and fuel your mind. First Landing State Park is a beautiful state park close to campus or you could even bike through the city of Norfolk on that Elizabeth River Trail (ERT) and it goes through campus! Another fun state park that is a little farther away from Norfolk you can look into is York River State Park located in Yorktown! All of these places help to fuel your mind and your body!
All in all, when you set the right environment for yourself to be able to succeed, you will. If you allow yourself to grow and thrive in a positive environment then your mental health will thank you. When you fuel your body with good nutrition and movements, your body will thank you as well! Remember Monarchs, you only get one body and one brain so treat them well and keep fueling them with good things!
