Four ways to say in balance this school year
Living a balanced life can improve your overall health. Photo by American Heart Association
By Anya Falk
Staff Writer
Everyone knows that college, and life in general, can be stressful. With deadlines, jobs, roommate problems, and the overall push to do anything and everything that you possibly can cause most people to feel stressed regularly. But do not fear, there is a solution. Like a lot of things in life, it has to do with balance.
While they may seem like easy steps, it takes time to build these habits, so take them slowly and don’t be upset when it doesn’t go exactly as planned. Be patient with yourself and know that this is an ongoing process, and that’s OK. In order to help you begin your journey, you will find below the four ingredients to help you live a balanced life.
1.Get enough zzz’s
Sleep is a critical component to overall health. Getting seven to eight hours a night will not only make you feel less tired – something that you and everyone around you will appreciate. It also helps your memory, so it’ll be easier to focus in class and retain the information. Finally, if you want to avoid getting sick, sleeping can make a big difference as it helps your immune system function properly. Plan your nights accordingly to make sure you will be getting the sleep your body wants and deserves!
2. Move it!
Not everyone loves to go to the gym and lift weights, or run on the treadmill three times a week, but luckily you do not need to! Simply getting up and moving as opposed to sitting all day is all the movement your body needs to be happy. Walking helps to improve your mood, but also to increase circulation and strengthen your muscles. Take a walk around campus and enjoy the view!
3.Eat a rainbow
This is another major player in the health game. Having an unbalanced diet can negatively affect all other areas of your life. So make sure to get a varied, whole-food diet, and your body will thank you. One of the key benefits of eating well is improved gut health. The gut is vital to the rest of the body, and a good gut can help fight harmful bacteria and viruses. Make sure you are eating a variety of foods and enjoying what nature has to offer!
4.Stressing less is best
Keeping stress under control is key to having a balanced life. Stress can cause a multitude of different symptoms and be harmful to your body. It’s important to learn how your body responds to stress so that you can be aware of it and take the necessary measures to help calm yourself down. Just of few of the wonderful benefits of managing stress are that it will decrease irritability, increase your energy levels and help you sleep. Make sure you take some time to relax, meditate, do some yoga, work on a coloring book and do what helps you decompress.