It is no fun being sick, and it can be especially hard on students when they are away from home for the first time. Staying healthy is something that everyone should prioritize, but the busyness of college sometimes makes it easy to let our health slip on our priority list. Guest blogger Brooke Chaplan gives us four easy things to keep in mind to stay healthy while you are in college. Not only will you feel better, staying focused and doing well in school will be a little easier if you’re healthy. 

Guest Blog by Brooke Chaplan

When in college, it’s natural to think about things like studying, working, and possibly even partying. Yet, one thing that you might not be focused on — but that you should be — is your health. The truth is that it can be easy to get sick when you’re in college, when you might not be eating as well as you did when you lived with your parents and when you probably come in contact with a whole lot of people — as well as a whole lot of germy surfaces — on a daily basis. Luckily, following a few tips can help you keep up with your health while you’re in college.

Focus on Eating Well

Sure, it might be a pretty well-known fact that many college students live off of a diet of pizza and ramen noodles. However, even though it’s fine to eat these things every now and then, it really is important to make sure that you are eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Consider hitting the salad bar in the cafeteria, and learn how to cook a few easy and healthy meals in your dorm room or apartment. This can help you stay healthy and can also help prevent you from putting on the “freshman 15.”

Don’t Let “Small” Issues Escalate

If you notice that you aren’t feeling well, see a doctor right away rather than putting it off. Something simple like allergy symptoms can often be controlled with medications like Dymista, for example, and it can be far better to go ahead and treat the problem now rather than waiting until it gets worse.

Fit in Some Exercise

You might have played sports or otherwise stayed active while you were in high school, but things might have changed now that you are in college. Make it a priority to stay in shape and to get plenty of exercise in while you’re in school. You can join recreational leagues for your favorite sports, hit the local gym or just make an effort to walk as much as possible. Doing so is good for your health and can also help with things like stress and depression.

Focus on Cleanliness

Make sure that you keep your dorm room or college apartment clean, focus on maintaining good hygiene, and wash your hands frequently, especially when you are on campus and are touching a lot of things that have been touched by many other students. Taking these simple steps can help you avoid getting sick.

As you can see, maintaining your health while you are in college is not as difficult as you might think. If you follow these basic tips, you can help maintain your health while still having the time of your life in college.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.