Ways to Stay Healthy Living in a Dorm Your Freshman Year

We've all heard it before that life in college—especially your freshman year of college—isn't exactly the healthiest.

From tales of the "freshman 15" to late-night study sessions fueled by nothing but copious amounts of coffee, the general college lifestyle is one that doesn't exactly set you up for success in the health department. Living in a dorm makes things even tougher, as you're likely to be living in tight quarters with limited cooking capacity and a dining hall with perfectly good pizza always waiting for you nearby.

With all that said, living in a dorm your freshman year doesn't mean it's impossible for you to stay healthy. You just need to prepare a bit beforehand. That's why we've gone ahead and put together your go-to study guide to staying healthy living in a dorm your first year of college (and don't worry—we promise we won't quiz you at the end like some of your professors might).

Walk to Class

If your campus offers convenient parking, consider yourself lucky. Even so, we recommend keeping the car parked and using your own two feet to get you to class whenever possible. You already live on campus, and the 10 to 15 minute walk to class is usually a lot more enjoyable than spending the same amount of time just searching for a parking spot closest to your next lecture hall. Plus, walking is a fantastic and easy form of exercise that might have you discovering new hidden gems or running into friends you might not have otherwise.

(via Unsplash)

 

Also read about: 5 Stereotypes About College That Aren't Always True

 

Make the Most of Your Meal Plan

No, we don't mean "go back to the buffet line to fill your plate as many times as possible in one visit." What we do mean is that you have access to tons of different food options, including some that are much healthier than others. There is nothing wrong with indulging in an extra slice of pizza or those special desserts they only offer around parents' weekend once in a while, but avoid filling your plate with not-so-nutritious foods all the time. Instead, opt for options you can grab from the salad bar, stir fry section or even the DIY sandwich area and pack your plate with more colorful foods that will leave you satisfied without that heavy feeling you get after too many chicken nuggets. If you have restaurants on campus that you can spend some form of campus dining dollars on, avoid the greasy fast food options and choose to use that money for smoothies and other nutrient-dense ones that are equally as fast without causing you to crash halfway through class.

 

Cook at Home When You Can

When it comes to cooking in a dorm, the right tools can make all the difference. Even if all you have is a microwave, you can still whip up some seriously delicious meals that will have your roommates wishing they'd also decided to skip the dining hall. While there are ways to cook in a dorm without anything fancy, save yourself the time and trouble (or the sad feeling of resorting to ramen once again) by investing in some dorm-friendly microwavable cookware like this four-piece set from Anyday, $100. From fresh cooked rice to protein-packed pasta and so much more, the food you can make with tools like this will help you keep your healthy routine without ever needing to leave the common room.

(via Anyday)

 

Stick to a Semi-Solid Sleep Schedule

Even though you used to wake up for class before dawn five days out of the week in high school, trust us when we say that it won't be easy to do the same in college (even for classes you only have twice a week). Whether you're able to avoid having any 8 a.m. classes your freshman year or not, we can't stress enough how important it is to avoid falling into a completely chaotic and inconsistent spiral of a sleep schedule.

It's not unheard of to see college students sleeping in until noon or later, but it isn't worth the damage you're doing to your body by doing so. Your body needs rest, and while it's okay to stay up extra late on occasion (whether it be to study for a tough exam the next day or to watch your crush perform at a university-hosted event), you shouldn't let your body get used a constantly shifting bedtime. Try to set your alarms at a semi-consistent time throughout the week, and don't let yourself cut the hours of shut-eye you're getting each night too short.

 

Be Careful What You Breathe

Dorms aren't usually the most luxurious of living quarters, and they're oftentimes held in buildings that were built before your parents were even born. That can lead to some stale air that's not so nice to breathe, but purchasing a solid air purifier can keep you and your lungs healthy whenever you're at home (even if that home is a room the size of a broom closet). This tabletop air purifier from Clorox ($70) is a great option, as it's compact, allowing you to breathe easier without allergens that make you sick and cause you to miss more class than you'd like to.

(via Clorox)

 

Actually Use the Rec Center

Whether you realize it or not, you're probably paying for access to your university's recreation center within your tuition. While you may not be that motivated to go lift some weights after making your brain do its own workout in calculus class just before, it might make you want to take more advantage of it if you're aware that it's something you're already technically paying for. Plus, exercise is a great way to reduce stress and feel better overall, which is really the best thing you can do for your health anyway. And yes, you can consider the walk from your dorm to the building as part of your cardio.

 

Also read about: 5 Little Things You Can Do to Step Up Your Fitness Game

 

Find Ways to Relax

Your mental health is just as important, if not more so, than your physical health. With that said, making the huge life change from leaving home to living in a dorm—not to mention all the stress of college life in general—can have a negative impact on your mental health if you don't stop to take stock of how you're really feeling once in a while. It's okay to miss home, but you'll need to develop healthy coping mechanisms sooner rather than later if you're going to really make the most of your time living on campus. Find some ways to relax that work best for you and the setup of your dorm, whether it's through meditation, yoga classes at the aforementioned rec center or even just journaling before bed every night.

(via Unsplash)

 

With just seven easy tips, staying healthy while living in a dorm during your freshman year doesn't need to be as challenging as finding your lecture hall on the first day of fall semester. Besides, there are actually a lot of benefits to living in a dorm your first year! Click HERE to check out our list of them.