Prioritizing health and wellness in college is one of the important steps toward success and a positive college experience. Feeling unwell or sick can definitely make it impossible to be focused on your studies. It also negatively affects productivity and mental health. That’s why taking care of your physical health should be prioritized as a basis for academic achievements.
Many students though face difficulties while trying to stay healthy on a budget. There is this belief that in order to stay healthy, you need to spend a lot of money on gym, healthy foods, yoga sessions, etc. However, that’s not exactly true as you can maintain your health even with a tight budget. Here are a few tips on how you can do that.
Eating Well on a Budget
Meal planning when you are on a budget is the first and most important element that you should work on. Of course, it might take time each week to create a plan for the next week and write down a grocery-shopping list, but it is surely worth it. When you have a plan on hand and you know what you are going to cook, you spend less time, less money, and also stress less. By implementing meal planning in your daily routine, you can improve your health and stick to a healthy affordable diet while also avoiding wasting groceries and living on a budget.
While it might be a little more convenient to eat out, for example in the campus diner, it is actually healthier and more budget-friendly to cook yourself. Even if you are living in the campus dorm and have limited access to cooking supplies, it is still possible to cook healthy, affordable, and tasty meals.
For example, you can purchase a rice cooker, a hot plate cooker, a microwave, a small fridge, and other essential cooking tools. There are a lot of various recipes that you can find online and try them yourself. You can also invest in some cooking books or watch some online cooking lessons, etc.
Staying Active Without Breaking the Bank
As not every student has money to visit expensive sports clubs or gyms, they might benefit from exploring free or low-cost exercise options on campus. There might be more sports options that you know about, for example, student fitness facilities and recreational programs that you can take advantage of.
Be sure to also invest your time to explore various outdoor activities and DIY fitness routines that you can find online or find a sports buddy. Working out with a friend surely improves your motivation and makes it easier to force yourself when you are feeling lazy.
Mental Wellness on a Budget
Though you might not have money for a therapist, you can still find free or discounted counseling services on campus.
You should also try practicing mindfulness and stress-relief techniques, like breathing techniques, meditations, engaging in low-cost hobbies, etc. Such things can really improve the quality of your life, reducing stress while costing very little or nothing at all.
Healthy Affordable Self-Care Practices
Another thing that you can do to improve your health is to make sure you spend quality time with yourself and take care of yourself. It surely all depends on what you like, but you can try for example:
- DIY spa treatments. Hot showers or bubble baths, face steaming, face and hair masks, oils, etc.
- Utilizing inexpensive self-care products and alternatives.
- Creating a self-care routine that fits your daily schedule.
Personal hygiene is super important for your health and for your social life. No one likes people who do not take care of their appearance, do not bathe, or do not use deodorant. No more words are needed.
Preventive Healthcare on a Budget
The importance of regular check-ups and vaccinations is hard to overestimate. Not only it allows you to keep your health good as well as the quality of your life but it also allows you to save a lot of money on medications and procedures. Once you visit a doctor more or less regularly, you can detect any issues long before they become a real problem.
Utilizing student health services and clinics is one of the things that you should definitely take advantage of. If there are any opportunities for students of your learning institution to get free or discounted health care, you should take it. Another option you have is to explore low-cost health insurance options available to you, for example, local programs for students or special deals.
Time Management for Balanced Living
In order to stay healthy and also succeed as a student it is important to learn how to balance academic commitments and wellness practices. For example, you can create a schedule with your routine, classes, training, and healthy routines written down.
Creating a schedule that prioritizes health without sacrificing studies means making sure that you spend an adequate portion of your day focused on studies, while also having time for a walk before bed, or doing yoga. It actually doesn’t take much time to go to a gym or cook yourself a healthy meal if you don’t procrastinate and have your day planned.
Incorporating short wellness breaks into daily routines, for example, doing a few exercises during the breaks in your study sessions, or quick meditation sessions in between your classes is another way to combine studies and health.
Conclusion
Investing time and money in your health when you are so young might seem like an excessive thing. However, it is crucial to understand that now you are creating a base for your future mental and physical health. The way you treat yourself now might be the defining point for how you feel in the future. Smoking or drinking alcohol is what many college students try without caring about possible consequences. But you need to be careful and wise about what you do to yourself.
Eating healthy, having enough sleep, and taking care of yourself are the basic things that you should pay attention to. Additionally, having an adequate amount of physical activity in your life, mental health sessions, and regular check-ups will surely help you keep yourself healthy and happy. And it will not break your budget, if you follow our easy tips.