Guest Poster: Bridget Sandorford
A dorm room tends to cramp your
style — in more ways than one. It can make it difficult to stay healthy
because you don’t have the room to set up fitness equipment to work out and you
don’t have a kitchen to cook fresh, healthy meals. As a college student, you
also don’t have the money for fancy gym memberships or gourmet meal delivery —
not to mention how short you are on time and high on stress.
style — in more ways than one. It can make it difficult to stay healthy
because you don’t have the room to set up fitness equipment to work out and you
don’t have a kitchen to cook fresh, healthy meals. As a college student, you
also don’t have the money for fancy gym memberships or gourmet meal delivery —
not to mention how short you are on time and high on stress.
Living in a dorm room doesn’t
have to be an excuse for giving in to unhealthy habits. Here are a few tips for
how you can maintain a healthy lifestyle even when living in a dorm room:
have to be an excuse for giving in to unhealthy habits. Here are a few tips for
how you can maintain a healthy lifestyle even when living in a dorm room:
Choose Healthy Options for Snacks and Meals
You may not have the space or
equipment to make fresh, healthy meals, but you still have control over the
choices you make. When you are picking your meals in the cafeteria, make sure
you opt for healthy choices such as fresh veggies, salads, grilled meats, and
whole grains. If you have to get a snack from the vending machine, choose baked
chips or low-salt nuts or trail mix.
equipment to make fresh, healthy meals, but you still have control over the
choices you make. When you are picking your meals in the cafeteria, make sure
you opt for healthy choices such as fresh veggies, salads, grilled meats, and
whole grains. If you have to get a snack from the vending machine, choose baked
chips or low-salt nuts or trail mix.
Making healthy choices adds up,
and a good diet is the foundation for good health. Besides choosing healthy
foods, you can also maintain a healthy diet by drinking plenty of fresh water.
You’ll stay hydrated, have fewer cravings, and feel less inclined to overeat.
and a good diet is the foundation for good health. Besides choosing healthy
foods, you can also maintain a healthy diet by drinking plenty of fresh water.
You’ll stay hydrated, have fewer cravings, and feel less inclined to overeat.
Workout in Your Room
Sure, there’s not enough room in
there for a treadmill or other bulky fitness equipment, but you don’t need any
of that to stay in shape. You can work up a good sweat in your room with a few
workout DVDs. If you don’t have a TV or DVD player in your room, you can still
get a good workout by doing a yoga or pilates routine. The only equipment you
need is your own body.
there for a treadmill or other bulky fitness equipment, but you don’t need any
of that to stay in shape. You can work up a good sweat in your room with a few
workout DVDs. If you don’t have a TV or DVD player in your room, you can still
get a good workout by doing a yoga or pilates routine. The only equipment you
need is your own body.
Working out in your dorm room is
low-cost and effective. If you do it every day, you’ll be able to stay in shape
and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
low-cost and effective. If you do it every day, you’ll be able to stay in shape
and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Workout with Friends
Of course, there’s a whole world
outside of your dorm room that you can use to stay active. You can easily go
for walks or runs with friends — or by yourself, if you prefer — and get in a
great workout while also socializing. (Multi-tasking is a college student’s
friend!) Walking, running, or even swimming in a local lake (that’s safe for
swimming) are easy and low-cost ways to get the exercise you need. Doing it
with a friend just makes it fun.
outside of your dorm room that you can use to stay active. You can easily go
for walks or runs with friends — or by yourself, if you prefer — and get in a
great workout while also socializing. (Multi-tasking is a college student’s
friend!) Walking, running, or even swimming in a local lake (that’s safe for
swimming) are easy and low-cost ways to get the exercise you need. Doing it
with a friend just makes it fun.
Take Advantage of Free Resources on Campus
Many colleges and universities
offer free resources, such as a student gym and fitness classes. You might be
able to take a yoga class on the weekend or participate in a fun run over a
holiday. The gym might be available for free, or you might need to pay a
student activity fee (as part of your tuition) to use it. Either way, they are
valuable resources that can help you maintain the healthy activity that you need.
offer free resources, such as a student gym and fitness classes. You might be
able to take a yoga class on the weekend or participate in a fun run over a
holiday. The gym might be available for free, or you might need to pay a
student activity fee (as part of your tuition) to use it. Either way, they are
valuable resources that can help you maintain the healthy activity that you need.
Double Up on Electives
Part of your curriculum will
include a fair amount of electives. Many fitness classes can be taken as an
elective, giving you the healthy activity you need. You won’t pay extra for
these classes. The cost of the elective is included in the cost of tuition to
complete your program.
include a fair amount of electives. Many fitness classes can be taken as an
elective, giving you the healthy activity you need. You won’t pay extra for
these classes. The cost of the elective is included in the cost of tuition to
complete your program.
Get Enough Sleep
An often overlooked part of a
healthy diet is to get plenty of sleep. This can be a tall order for some
college students, who often have to pull all-nighters to study for exams or to
complete projects. However, making sure you get a full night’s rest will help
you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, reduce stress, and reduce your likelihood
of illness and disease.
healthy diet is to get plenty of sleep. This can be a tall order for some
college students, who often have to pull all-nighters to study for exams or to
complete projects. However, making sure you get a full night’s rest will help
you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, reduce stress, and reduce your likelihood
of illness and disease.
Living in a dorm room may limit
your options, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have full control to create a
healthy lifestyle. There are plenty of ways you can eat healthy, get the
exercise you need, and reduce your stress with both your limited resources and
your limited budget.
your options, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have full control to create a
healthy lifestyle. There are plenty of ways you can eat healthy, get the
exercise you need, and reduce your stress with both your limited resources and
your limited budget.
What other ways do you keep up a
healthy lifestyle in your dorm? Share your tips in the comments!
healthy lifestyle in your dorm? Share your tips in the comments!
About the Author:
Bridget Sandorford is a freelance
food and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching culinary school in Austin. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her
first cookbook.
food and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching culinary school in Austin. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her
first cookbook.
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