I've got a week and a half to go before my freshman year at Brown starts, and I'm sincerely worried about the complete lifestyle change I'm about to face. I'm going to go from having all the time in the world to work out and eat home-cooked meals to having longer days filled with junk food, partying, and sitting in the library studying instead of being active.
There's no doubt that the Freshman 15 is a real threat for every incoming member of the Class of 2020. Here are some dangers to our health, and tips to help us take care of ourselves during our first year of college.
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1. Stress eating
With all the chaos that goes on in the first semester of college, I'm sure many students feel pressured to succeed in school while making tons of new friends. The comforts and hobbies that we left at home make us sad, while the nonstop events going on all year at college make us excited for the future. We are going to be a huge ball of emotions, and what better way is there to quell those emotions than eating? Eating while studying, eating while watching Netflix at 3 in the morning, and eating just for the sake of comfort is going to be one of the hardest habits to break.
Tip:
Try to only eat when you're hungry (not just bored or doing something else), keep only healthy snacks in your dorm room, and use your meal plan to go to the dining hall 2-3 times a day instead of going to Chipotle or a falafel place at 2 in the morning.
2. Socializing
Parties are abundant in college, and with parties come lots of food and alcohol. I don't need to tell you the many dangers of alcohol, but one aspect of it that not everyone takes into account is the calorie count. Plus, party food is never fruit and vegetables. Think pizza and chips nonstop every weekend. It's bound to add up.
Tip:
I recommend eating meals before parties so that you don't have to snack, and drinking lots of water throughout the party. Spend time hanging out with your friends, and don't just eat and drink because there are food and drinks available. Make good choices!
3. Not enough time to exercise
The majority of college students quit the sports they played in high school. Even if they didn't play any organized sports, most people will probably stop going to the gym or going for runs because any of their free time will be eaten up by studying, socializing, and sleeping.
Tip:
I am a firm believer that there is always time in the day to work out in some way. Exercising is the most beneficial thing you can do for your health, your academics, and your social life in college. I will personally be playing a D1 sport, but even if you aren't, there are so many club sports and teams you can join. Brown has a running club, and students in the Facebook group have already found workout buddies and joined fun 5k's for September. Exercise is the perfect mental and physical break from schoolwork, and can be even more fun when you make friends in the process.
4. Dining Hall Food
Unfortunately, dining halls are known for being a buffet of fried temptations. Plus, if you're an ice cream lover like me and there is a soft-serve machine in the dining hall, you're going to have to resist so many urges to splurge. After all, the meal plan was expensive, so why not use it?
Tip:
Ditch that mindset, and really think about all of your options. Make sure the food you're eating is well-balanced, and you're getting all of the food groups you need without overdosing on one or two of them. Save dessert for special occasions and don't eat more than you usually do just because there are more options. I'm planning to live on the salad bar and the vegan options, making sure to eat enough that I won't be hungry between meals, but not too much.
5. Limited Access to Healthy Food
A college student's budget is typically minuscule, their shelves filled to the brim with Ramen Noodles and Cheerios. Their excess food budget (if existent) will be spent on fast food late at night. Even if you're on a meal plan, a piece of half-rotten fruit or unwashed lettuce is not enough to get you through the day. Plus, who can resist free pizza, barbecues, bagels, muffins, and ice cream every day during orientation and club activities?
Tip:
I'm going to try to stock up on fruit, vegetables, granola, nuts, and nut butters to keep in my dorm room, and hit up the farmer's market that comes to my campus every week. When healthy food is available, I'm less likely to reach for my roommate's chips or go out and buy a burrito. Before you get on campus, find the nearest grocery store to your dorm and bring bulk non-perishable snacks from home.
6. No Sleep
Of course, the biggest concern and the hardest aspect to factor in is the levels of constant exhaustion we will be feeling as freshmen. Sleep is the most important factor in staying healthy. A combination of a hectic social life, too much work, and binge-watching Netflix with no parents to lecture us is going to lead to a dangerous sleep schedule.
Tip:
I've always been good with getting enough sleep. In high school, I managed to do well in many AP courses, be a part of 10 clubs, and be at squash practice four hours a day, all while managing to get to bed by 11. How? My advice is to never waste time with TV or Netflix during the school year except on weekends once in a while. Do your homework and study every free minute you have between classes and activities, and stay off social media as much as possible. You may not get eight hours of sleep every night, but you'll be sleeping a lot more than most of your classmates.
College gives young adults an unprecedented and sometimes overwhelming amount of freedom, but that doesn't mean there aren't still consequences to unhealthy behaviors. As long as we keep our mental and physical health prioritized above all else, our academics and social life will thrive along with them. So good luck, freshmen!
