Whether it’s a dorm party, a club soccer tournament, or a comedy club event, college students can seem busier than CEOs. Of course, having such a full schedule to provide you with structure and purpose is great — but at the same time, it’s always important to remember to nourish yourself. 

Here are some tips for better health, fitness, and wellness for college students. 

Health tips for students

  • Explore the cafeteria to see all your options before deciding on what you want to eat (if you have the time!)
  • If you know you have a sweet tooth, stock up on healthy snacks to keep in your dorm instead of hitting up the oh-so-convenient vending machines.
  • Keep a water bottle with you as you go from class to class.
    • Remember to hydrate! Research shows that our cognitive abilities can decline after a loss of just 2% body water. 
  • Stock up on brain-boosting snacks that you can take with you to all of your long study sessions. 
  • Pack snacks in your bag if you have no time between classes to get a full meal in.
  • If you don’t have time for lunch or breakfast, try packing a meal on the go instead of snacking throughout the day.
  • As often as possible, try to get a full night’s sleep (around six to eight hours). 
    • Research has found that longer duration and better quality of sleep are linked to better academic performance among college students. 
  • If you can’t get the nutrients you need from the school’s cafeteria, invest in the necessary vitamins. 

Fitness tips for students

  • Take walks around campus if you don’t have enough time to get in a full gym session.
  • Look into the club sports that your school offers.
  • Try out some fitness planning apps if you have trouble making a schedule of your own.
  • If you don’t feel that you have time to go to the gym, consider walking or biking to class instead of driving.
  • If the gym is full, use technology to your advantage and find a workout or yoga video that you can do in your room or outside.
  • If you’re not into traditional strength training and cardio, see if an intramural sports team is right for you.

Wellness tips for students

  • If you’re having trouble falling asleep, try a mediation session. You can even use a guided meditation audio track that specifically helps with falling asleep.
    • In turn, getting quality sleep results in improved health and wellness.
  • If you have a stressful day or week ahead of you, try doing some mindfulness exercises before bed or when you wake up.
  • If you’re stressed about studying or completing an assignment, try exercising before you begin. 
  • Make time for your friends! As research shows, one’s social circle is one of the best predictors of mental wellbeing.
  • If you have back-to-back classes all day, carve out a period in the morning to get some sunlight, as this is found to be extremely beneficial for mood and well-being. 
  • To avoid burnout, ensure that you’re making time for you to have fun, socialize, and have downtime.
  • Test out different stress-management techniques.
    • This is important because research consistently shows that having stress-management skills is related to better academic outcomes.