In college, it’s easy to take wrong turns and short cuts.
We’ve compiled a list of things to keep in mind when you make decisions that affect your health.
It’s easy to sometimes overlook what is important: sleep, eating habits, exercise, and study habits. These factors are all attributed to time management.
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We want to figure out how to manage time well so we can make healthy decisions in regards to these mentioned factors.
When it comes to your eating habits, it is important to monitor your portions.
Make sure you eat periodically throughout the day and that you control your portion sizes at meals.
According to the article “10 Tips to Stay Healthy in College,” by Kristian Smith, “Staying hydrated can help your concentration and keep you from overeating. It also replenishes your body and gives you more energy throughout the day.”
For sophomore Adam Foster, overeating is where he goes wrong with his diet. On weekends, Foster gravitates towards pizza and Chinese food, both of which are large in portion sizes and usually high in sodium and calories.
Trisha Calvo, an “Eat Right” columnist for Shape magazine, highlighted popular Chinese dishes and shared a healthier alternative.
For example, Calvo said to swap steamed pork dumplings for Wonton soup, and choose chicken with snow peas over chicken with black bean sauce.
If you’re craving seafood, choose fresh shrimp with lobster sauce over stir fried shrimp.
According to Smith’s article, students should choose healthier options when it comes to eating pizza and other greasy foods.
“For those late-night cravings during all-nighters, try healthier alternatives to your favorite late-night foods. For example, get pizza with whole wheat crust, vegetable toppings instead of meat and low-fat cheese,” Smith said.
For freshmen cousins Mary and Meaghan Allen, it’s the treats in the Zorn Dining Commons that tempt them to cheat.
Mary shared her indulgence with the frozen yogurt, while Meaghan admitted to sometimes having the fries for both lunch and dinner.
Similarly, freshman Kaitlyn Holland commented on the availability of the fries and ice cream.
“The ice cream and fries are the first thing I see when I walk in,” she said.
The next problem area that came up with students was no surprise: sleep.
Freshman Chad Peterson said that although he gets approximately eight hours of sleep per day, it’s scattered hours here and there throughout the day and night.
Sophomore Meghan Shaw said her greatest challenge during the week is to get enough sleep.
Shaw explained she stays up too late on weeknights due to socializing with friends and finishing homework for the next day’s class.
The problem is, some days there just aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to get done.
Many students turn to caffeine and sugary drinks to give them an energy boost and help them complete their work load for that day, however, this habit will only be detrimental to your health.
“Though caffeinated beverages like soda and energy drinks can be beneficial when studying or doing late-night homework, they are ultimately harmful in the long run,” Smith continued, “The combination of caffeine and sugar in these drinks causes you to crash and feel bad later,” she said.
If you are looking for an energy boost, we suggest consuming foods that are high in protein and high in fiber.
But the key to finishing all of the work you need to complete is to get a good night’s sleep.
Smith said in the article “10 Tips to Stay Healthy in College” that “Though you may be tempted to pull an all-nighter to study for an exam or stay out until 3 a.m. partying with friends, make sure you don’t make that a habit. Sleep deprivation can lead to reduced brain function, fatigue, headaches and weight loss or gain.”
However, lack of sleep is not the only reason students are overtired or over stressed. Many don’t allow themselves to indulge in the luxury of relaxation.
Smith states, “College students are usually pretty stressed with classes and exams, but relaxing and having down-time is essential to staying healthy. Stress can cause numerous problems and getting too run-down can adversely affect your health. The easiest way to relax is to create a routine and give yourself regular breaks.”
Use one of these breaks to go for a walk and exercise– give your mind a break from the constant stress of completing homework for classes and studying for exams.
Sophomore Brooke Malloy said she tries to make exercise part of her daily routine.
“It’s really hard to get motivated with classes and work. I need to put exercise as a priority,” she said.
We know Sunday is known as “the day of rest,” but instead of nursing a hangover, we suggest getting a jumpstart on your course load so come Monday you’re not wanting to pull your hair out.
Joseph Ojile, M.D., director of the Clayton Sleep Institute, said in Shape magazine to fight the urge to sleep through your Sundays.
“Wide variations in your get-out-of-bed time can throw off your sleep-wake cycle, putting you at risk for insomnia.” If you’re tempted to sneak in an extra few hours, try to work it into your weekday wake-up time.
Making a conscious effort to pay attention to your food intake or the activities you do late at night that keep you up could benefit you in the long run.
In order to be a more successful student today, we believe applying proper time management skills can help you stay aware of these five key areas and improve on them daily.
Julie Conlon can be contacted at
jconlon@keene-equinox.com
Sam Norton can be contacted at
snorton@keene-equinox.com