Literally everyone’s favourite resolution is to ‘be healthy‘ or something along those lines. We’re sure that gyms get a kick out of the influx of new members at the start of a new year as the result of resolutions. Living a healthy lifestyle is particularly relevant for students because the state of your body and your wellbeing will inevitably affect your mind.

In order to stay sane during the academic year and keep your life balanced, it’s important for you to invest a bit of effort into keeping your health in check. If you’re stuck for ways to stay fit and healthy this year, we’ve got you covered!

healthy running

Source: Greatist

1. Set some smaller goals

Something that’s helpful to those who are trying to start a healthier lifestyle is to set some small goals. Don’t think you have to go hard, fast. Helpful goals might be to take short walks before breakfast or eat raw greens with at least one of your meals. Since health and fitness are ways of life and not just things you do, these smaller steps that you take will help you as you progress towards a healthier life.

2. Make it your own 

There are heaps of health and fitness professionals on the internet who will be telling you how to exercise and what to eat but everyone is different. There’s really little point in doing endless cardio sessions if you’d probably find more satisfaction in lifting weights. This goes the same for diet. Some people thrive and enjoy simple foods whereas others will appreciate more complex flavours. How you eat is actually up to you. Do be mindful that it’s balanced but don’t be afraid to explore until you find options that suit you.

3. Keep it interesting

Because diet and exercise are things that eventually become ingrained into your day to day life, they can become boring. Switching up programs and meal plans where appropriate will help you keep it interesting! Doing the same exercises indefinitely can actually stunt your progress in a few ways as your body ceases to become challenged anymore. Likewise, eating the same thing every single day can deprive your body fo the variety of nutrients it needs. So not only is mixing things up good for your brain and happiness but also your body! 

4. Ask for help

If you’re having trouble figuring out where to start, making an appointment with a nutritionist or personal trainer can help get you on track. These people are qualified professionals and can help you start a program on the right foot. You don’t have to pay for a personal training session every single week but a consultation may teach you the basics, help to create a plan and help you to apply it. It might seem scary to reach out for help in this area, but if you’re unsure, it’s definitely the safest option.

5. Do it for the right reasons

Being healthy is a great thing in itself but we have to warn against the dangers of becoming obsessive. Having a positive view of yourself is important but we need to remember that our personality is far more valuable than looks. There are more important things than how we look so if you’re putting too much emphasis on eating healthy and exercising solely for superficial reasons, it might be good to talk to someone about it. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive to be healthy but having a healthy perspective is a part of wholesome living

Starting to exercise and eat healthier is a great way to start the new year. Not only will you feel better and happier, but you’ll be able to focus for longer and study better. Your brain survives on what you fuel your body with and so diet and exercise can help you in school. Exercise is also great to help release endorphins and counteract stress.

We wish you the very best in your health journeys and hope that this post has inspired you to approach it in a balanced way.

What will you be doing to stay healthy this year? Leave us a comment!