Importance of Keeping Fit While Away at College

Good health and fitness are important for everyone, but there are special considerations for the college student. Students are faced with issues, such as sleep deprivation and poor diets, all of which can negatively impact good health.

It is a good idea for college students to remain focused on strong fitness during their school years because it can be easy to fall into bad habits which may or may not last a lifetime.

A routine fitness regiment will also help combat the stress college students regularly face.

Challenges college students face

If you are in college, you fully understand all the academic and social challenges students cope with everyday, and these challenges can all have a negative impact on health. Activities such as late night study sessions, poor diets, lack of exercise time and long days full of academic coursework can take a toll on your good health. Keeping up with fitness will mitigate some of the health issues which arise for students and, as a bonus, reduce some of the stresses associated with a full course load.

A well-known health issue for college students is the dreaded “freshman 15”. This is extra weight usually picked up during college due to a combination of habit and time/financial constraints. Students often need to buy food on the cheap and, unfortunately, these usually are not always the best or healthiest choices. Convenience is also a factor, with the jam-packed schedules, many students carry, meals are often on the go, which typically comes in the form of an unhealthy snack.

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To combat the “freshman 15” and other issues associated with health which can arise, make time to stay fit is important. By keeping fit you’ll be healthier, more energetic and also keep that weight gain to a minimum. The energy and health benefits will also reduce your stress levels in other areas of your academic lifestyle because you’ll feel better and be better equipped to tackle your assignments and social pressures.

Why fitness is important

Time is usually one of the biggest obstacles for college students, but it is really an obstacle student should try hard to overcome because the long-term health benefits of maintaining fit far outweigh the temporary problems with a busy schedule.

Developing a routine fitness regiment is a proactive measure which is essential for good health in general. There is an old adage which states “you are what you eat,” and there seems to be a solid element of truth in this statement. Overindulgence in unhealthy foods leads to weight gain and loss of energy, and an overall feeling of sluggishness, but eating a healthier diet result in more energy and it keeps your body in sync. Possessing a higher degree of energy will enable you to want to exercise more because you’ll be more motivated to think in terms of keeping fit.

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If you feel sluggish and an overall loss of energy, it’s very possible your grades and academic standing could suffer. It is to your benefit to remain as fit and healthy as possible for both the short and long term.

Easy ways to fit exercise into a busy schedule

Instead of taking your car or catching a shuttle bus, plan ahead to integrate a few extra minutes to walk to classes. If you reside close to the buildings, take the long way to class. Also, it can help boost exercise to avoid using elevators where possible, always try and use the stairs. Those few extra flights on a regular basis add up amazingly and you won’t even notice the effort towards exercising.

Additionally, most colleges offer areas where students can work out and exercise. The hardest part associated with this is making the time; however, with a few adjustments in your schedule, most students can find hour every day to dedicate to exercise. Finding an exercise buddy can help tremendously. If getting to the gym proves too difficult, why not try waking up a few minutes earlier in the morning and run through a few exercises either with a DVD or on your own? Ask that same buddy if he or she is interested in doing this and the two of you can work out together before classes. It’s fun, will improve your health and doing it with another person relieves some of the boredom or pressures.

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A few extra minutes of exercise as part of your daily routine can do wonders, and within a few short weeks, you’ll feel better and more energized as you tackle that next research paper.