I never really made my health a priority growing up. I played some sports and ate whatever my mom put in front of me. I didn’t think about how important it is to be proactive in staying healthy until I got to college. The dining halls can be full of junk and since I am no longer playing sports like I use to, I stopped being as active. While I never used to step foot in any gym, I have come to actually enjoy going to the gym to stay fit. Exercise, diet, and hydration are all important aspects of health and wellness. Here are six tips to help you stay healthy in college!

Fill your room with healthy snacks

Filling your apartment or dorm room with healthy snacks keeps you from snacking on junk. I know we all get the munches sometimes, so if you keep your space filled with healthy snacks, you will be forced to snack on them because you have nothing else! Eventually, you will start getting used to it and eating junk food won’t taste so good. This is an easy way to gradually change your diet and cravings without doing anything crazy.

Carry a water bottle

Always carry a water bottle with you! I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times, but drinking water is so important. It can help with weight loss, digestion, your skin, and your overall health. I used to never drink water, but I invested in a Hydroflask and it weirdly gets me excited to drink water. I try to fill up my water bottle at least 3 times a day.

Identify activities you enjoy

Figuring out what you like is so important! Being active doesn’t have to mean running 5 miles a day. I personally don’t like running. I found that I love weightlifting and strength workouts. I recommend trying out some classes at your gym like cycling, yoga, Zumba, HIIT, kickboxing, swimming – anything! You will never know if you don’t try.

Find a gym buddy

Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated. Having a gym buddy definitely helps drag you out of bed and keep you motivated. It’s a great way to bond with your friend and stay active together. It is also less scary working out when you aren’t alone!

Stick to a schedule

You don’t have to work out 6 times a week, but have a schedule starting at maybe 2-3 days a week and stick to it. After keeping a regular schedule your body will get used to working out so if you skip a day, your body will know you skipped a day and you will get this weird feeling that you should go workout again! I can’t describe the feeling but start working out and see for yourself!

Just start

The hardest part of any fitness plan is getting started. For some it’s being lazy, for others it’s the daunting thought of just going to a gym. Getting into a healthy, active lifestyle is so important and you will be glad you started. Just go and try it! See what you like and go for it. Good luck!