How to Keep Your Mind and Body Healthy While Living Away from Home

(Photo : How to Keep Your Mind and Body Healthy While Living Away from Home)

Your first big move away from your childhood home is significant for many reasons, one of the most common being that you are leaving to begin your college career. After having spent a huge chunk of your life cohabitating with people that helped you handle your responsibilities the switch to having to do so on your own can be overwhelming. While college invokes a lot of excitement in kids, it also adds an element of pressure that is new and learning how to develop habits to combat that pressure is critical. 

Pay Attention to Your Mood

Being able to distinguish between situational stress, and chronic mental health related issues is particularly difficult during a major transition. It is important to be honest with yourself regarding new or unusual feelings and pay attention to how you are mentally and emotionally responding to them. Campuses all over have identified an uptick in students reporting the need for support in this area and have responded with support pieces like all-in-one telehealth.

You can take advantage of this telehealth program, which was created for universities and college to help focus on the unique needs of students. A major symptom of the emotional change's students face is feeling disconnected and forced into isolation, telehealth can help. Being able to seek and receive help virtually encourages students not to ignore their feelings simply because they are uncomfortable in in-person scenarios. This is a complete care solution created to allow students to view campus as a place where they thrive. 

Have Active Hobbies

Despite how busy a college schedule can get, there always seems to be down time. How you choose to spend this time can have a major impact on your overall health. Strike a balance between giving your body a break and creating lazy addictions for yourself. Decompressing with screens is quite common but, in some cases, can be too consuming of a hobby. Make a point to find ways to relax and enjoy a mental break that also include movement. Taking walks to new parts of campus, intermural sports, yoga and stretching are all great examples of ways to break away from your studies while still prioritizing your physical health. 

Monitor Your Diet

Dietary health is another area of a young adult's life that can quickly fall out of whack. If you lived at home before moving away to college you likely enjoyed the benefit of having an adult prepare all your meals, which was in essence, managing your dietary health for you. Now that you are responsible for this area of your life find ways to start off on a good foot. Specifically, within residence halls where cafeterias provide an overabundance of options, have a plan for how you will create and sustain healthy choices. 

Remember that food is fuel for your mind and body, and the basis for its overall functionality. What you put into your body will determine what you get out of it, as well as your energy levels, sleep patterns, and physical fitness. Indulging in common college treats like midnight pizza dining out with friends is to be expected just keep your hand on the pulse of frequency in which you treat yourself to optimize your overall nutrition.