9 Ways for College Students to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

It’s really hard for college students to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Between balancing classes with social life, to limited and affordable food options, to the stress of everything, it’s just tough. To help, here are 9 common barriers (and tips to overcome them!) for college students to maintain a healthy lifestyle:

Time constraints: College students often have busy schedules with classes, studying, and extracurricular activities, which can make it difficult to find time for healthy habits like exercise and meal planning.
- To overcome this barrier, schedule in specific times for physical activity and meal planning, and look for ways to incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine. For example, you could try walking or biking to class instead of driving, or pack a healthy lunch or snack to eat between classes when you can’t make it back to your dorm or apartment.
Limited access to healthy food: College campuses often have a variety of food options with many not falling into a healthy category,
- To overcome this barrier, try to plan ahead and bring healthy snacks with you, such as nuts, fruit, or protein bars and eat those to avoid the temptation of unhealthy eating. You can also try to cook your own meals using the resources available, such as a dorm room microwave or a shared kitchen in an apartment.
Stress and anxiety: College can be a stressful time, and students may turn to unhealthy behaviors like overeating or not exercising to cope with stress.
- To overcome this barrier, try to find healthy ways to manage stress, such as exercise, meditation, walking in nature, or talking to a therapist or trusted friend.
Limited physical activity: Many college campuses do not have access to gym facilities, may not have enough space for students to engage in physical activity, or you may just be intimidated by going to the gym with your peers.
- To overcome this barrier, try to find ways to be physically active outside of a gym setting, such as going for a walk or run, participating in sports or group fitness classes, or doing at-home workouts. Also, as much as you think people are judging you at the gym, most of the “buff” or “pretty” people only care about themselves so get in there and pump some iron!
Social pressure: College students may feel pressure to drink alcohol or party, which can negatively impact your health.
- To overcome this barrier, try to surround yourself with friends who support healthy habits and make an effort to engage in sober activities. Alcohol has a ton of negative impacts so even cutting back a little makes a huge difference. Also, ordering food late night after too much to drink never leads to healthy food choices.
Lack of knowledge about healthy habits: Some students may have not been taught about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle or may not have the necessary knowledge to make healthy choices.
- To overcome this barrier, try to educate yourself about healthy habits, such as by reading articles on this website or talking to a healthcare provider or other resources available through your school.
Limited financial resources: College students may have limited financial resources, which can make it difficult to afford healthy food or gym memberships.
- To overcome this barrier, try to find ways to save money on healthy options, such as by buying in bulk or looking for discounts. You can also try to find free or low-cost options for physical activity, such as by taking advantage of free and discounted gym trials or participating in outdoor activities.
Homesickness: College students may miss the support and structure of their home environment, which can make it harder to maintain healthy habits.
- To overcome this barrier, try to find ways to stay connected with loved ones, such as through phone calls or video chats, and seek out support from friends or campus resources.
Lack of motivation: It can be difficult to find the motivation to maintain healthy habits when faced with so many other demands and responsibilities.
- To overcome this barrier, try to find activities that you enjoy and that give you a sense of accomplishment, and remind yourself of the benefits of healthy habits for your physical and mental well-being.