Being healthy is hard in college.
There, I said it. No one really talks about exercise during college; when
people talk about being healthy, they usually mean how not to gain weight, and
for that they recommend not drinking too much and not eating too many oreos.
But being healthy is more than that. It’s about exercising, working hard, and
being mentally healthy too. For many college kids, the problem lies in finding
the time to go to class, do work, go to an internship, have a social life, and
exercise, and trust me, the balance is not easy. But I think I have found a
method that helps even the busiest of students stay on track and continue a
healthy lifestyle. During my freshman year, I dreaded going to the gym, because
it seemed like a punishment for all the garbage I had been eating over the last
week. But changing your mindset, and therefore your attitude, towards working
out can change your entire workout routine altogether. Everyone comes back from
summer vacation looking fit and tan, but once the tan fades we all seem to
forget the healthy regimens we were so good at maintaining during the summer.
So I thought I would focus on exercise tips today, and share some fitness ideas
that make being healthy in college exceptionally less challenging.
Set realistic goals // Start by thinking about how you want
working out to change your life. Do you want to gain muscle, lose weight, or
just be healthy and happy? Exercising can do so much for so many people, so
decide what you want it to do for you. If you have been working out over the
summer, and you felt fit and fantastic, maybe setting some goals will just help
you maintain what you accomplished over the summer. But what I always remind
anyone who wants to go to the gym is that it’s a journey; think of it as a
marathon, not a sprint. I can guarantee that you will not see extreme results
in one week or even one month. It has taken a lot of time for me to notice
serious changes, both in my body and my health. So set goals that reflect the notion
that this will take time; for me, I wanted to look and feel a certain way, but
I never really cared about the number on the scale. Think about how you want to
feel, or how much weight you want to lift. Do you want to be able to run a
seven minute mile, or deadlift 150 pounds? Think about what goals you can set
that can be clear and simple. Planning to lose fifteen pounds can seem clear
and simple, but in reality it is so difficult, and not reaching your goal
weight is more discouraging than encouraging; in the end, you’ll just feel
deflated. Your goals should motivate you, so set them with you and your body in
mind.
Make a plan, make a schedule // Once you’ve set a few goals for
yourself, you need to decide exactly how you want make this happen. Exercising
consistently starts with making a schedule. Sit down on a Sunday night, and
make a plan of action for the week. How many days do you want to work out? How
much time do you have to spend in the gym? Is there an area of your body that
you want to dedicate your workouts to? Do you want to do cardio, strength
training, or a combination? Answering these questions will help you narrow down
your plans, and will help you customize a workout that is right for you. That
way, when you go looking online for workout tips and ideas for exercises, you
can focus on finding exercises that fit your needs.
Next, make a schedule. This is really what changed working out
for me, because it made me commit time out of my day to working out. I no
longer had the classic excuse “I’ll go tomorrow,” because it was on my calendar
that I had set time aside for a workout, and therefore I needed to go
today. But like I said about goals, be realistic. If you have a full schedule
and little time to dedicate to going to the gym, start your week with one
30-minute workout on Monday, and one 30-minute workout on Saturday. Keep adding
as needed, but always make sure that you are being realistic about how much you
can actually do. It’s okay if you can’t go to the gym every single day, but it hurts
you more if you write down that you will go every day, and then you never do.
If you commit to two or three days a week, it’s harder to wriggle your way out
of it! Making a plan gives you a good routine, and when working out becomes a
healthy habit, you tend to like it more!
Stay motivated // Once you have set goals and made a plan, think
about how you will motivate yourself to continue to workout and stay fit, even
when schoolwork gets heavy or you get tired. Finding time to fit in a workout
is especially difficult if you have no motivation to go in the first place! I
have a few ways that I like to stay motivated, and all of them are pretty
simple. I make a workout playlist with music to get me pumped, buy that new
sports bra I’ve been eyeing, or promise myself a chai latte the next morning. I
also go to the gym with a friend a lot, and it works well for a few reasons.
One, if you plan to go to the gym with a friend, you are held accountable for
going. Two, you and your friend can teach each other new exercises, or race
each other on the bikes. And three, working out with a friend is way more fun
that exercising by yourself. You can sing along to the same songs or help each
other lift weights. So next time you want to go to the gym, plan to go with a friend!
Make plans that will keep you exercising and enjoying the workouts. Whatever it
is that keeps you going, do it! Staying motivated is the key to exercise.
Treat yourself // An important part of working out is rewarding
yourself for the good work that you do! Just because you have started working
out does not mean that you should starve yourself of the things you enjoy, or
punish yourself for not doing it all perfectly. If it’s the weekend, and I’m at
dinner with friends, and they are all getting a dessert, I’ll get a dessert! An
important part of having a workout routine is finding balance, so remember that
you are allowed to have a treat every once in awhile. Once every week or two I
give myself a bit of a cheat day, which means I either don’t go to the gym or I
have something cheeky to eat. Either way, I let myself have one day to enjoy
something nice for myself. I’m not just rewarding all my hard work at the gym,
but all my hard work throughout the week too!
Don’t be hard on yourself // When you have a strict workout
schedule like I do, it’s hard not to be mad at yourself when you are too tired
to workout, or you can’t find the time to go to the gym. But please, don’t
punish yourself for not doing everything or not doing it all perfectly. This tiny
mistake is just a miniscule part of your fitness journey. Harping on eating
that second doughnut does you no good, but going to the gym and getting a good
workout in will. And if you need a break, take one. Listen to your body and
take note. What is more important than exercise is being okay mentally. Getting
sleep is scientifically proven to be better for your body than spending an hour
at the gym, so if you can get some extra z’s before your next class, do it.
Always remember that you are enough, and you are doing the best you can.
Here are some other easy tips to get some exercise into your
busy schedule:
•
Skip the elevator, take the stairs!
•
Wait a few extra minutes before leaving for class, and
speed walk across campus! Speed walking is proven to be much better for you
than just regular walking.
•
Don’t take public transportation, and walk to work
instead. Or, if you don’t have time to walk, grab a rental bike and ride to
work!
•
Offer to hang out with your friends and go for a hike or a
run. That way you can see your friends and work out at the same time!
Having an exercise routine as a college student is just plain
hard. It sometimes seems impossible, and other times just seems completely
unnecessary. But exercise is about so much more than just knocking off those
few extra pounds or getting a little more definition in your arms. It’s about
having a better night’s sleep, having a stronger immune system, feeling less
tired, feeling healthier and feeling stronger and feeling so much better. It’s
about knowing that you can set your sights on something and reach your goals.
So treat your body right and get your workout on! You can go to the gym, but
you can also go for a run outside, go on a hike with your friends, or lift some
weights at home. Whatever works for you is what will help you be in the most
successful. And always know that, when it comes to working out, not matter how
tough or intimidating it seems, you really can do it.
