A new year is the harbinger of many new things, including new resolutions. Whether it’s working harder at studying or making more of an effort to see New York City, these resolutions are an important way a student can enhance the Stern College experience. But one of the most overlooked, yet crucial, resolutions you can make this year is to improve your health. Here are some tips to make this school year the healthiest one yet:
1) Walk. New York City is filled with famous landmarks, scenic parks, and great shopping. Instead of taking the subway or bus when you need to get to a store or meet a friend, walk! There are so many sites to see in New York, you’ll barely feel the distance. Great places to walk to in the city are the farmer’s market at Union Square for some fresh fruits and veggies, Times Square, Central Park, and so much more!
2) Get some sleep. It’s easy, as college students, to lose track of our nights. Yet sleep is one of the keys to getting through college. By lowering your blood pressure from an active day, sleep reduces stress levels and helps you remain calm and focused during those long days in the library. Sleep also improves memory significantly, as rest allows your brain to process new knowledge more effectively. The recommended amount of sleep for college-aged students is seven to nine hours.
3) Eat breakfast. In case you haven’t heard it enough times, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Getting your day started with breakfast is crucial to maintaining a speedy metabolism and providing your mornings with the proper nutrients and energy needed to take on those long school days. The caf has some great breakfast options, including high fiber cereals, yogurt, and oatmeal. Pair it with a fruit and glass of milk and you’ve got a great start to your day!
4) Make your water bottle your new best friend. Drinking water is probably the easiest way to stay healthy and even help lose weight. Water allows your body to properly digest all the foods you eat throughout the day, stay hydrated during both the hot and humid months, and make your skin glow. The easiest way to get in the recommended daily water intake (8 cups) is bringing a Camelback or a filtered water bottle around wherever you go so that you can refill wherever you are, while still drinking refreshing, clean water.
5) Exercise while watching TV. Sure, we all want to catch up on our favorite TV shows, but instead of plopping yourself in front of the TV to watch the latest episode of Suits or Modern Family, get on the elliptical or recumbent bike for that hour. You’ll still get to watch your episode, and you’ll be burning calories at the same time! And instead of the usual hop on/hop off for 10 minutes, you’ll be motivated to stay on your workout machine for the full hour until the show is over!
6) Look up the nearest races in town. Sometimes it just takes a small goal for us to get moving. The best motivation for getting your sneakers on and beating your fastest mile time is training for a race. There are always 5K’s, 10K’s, and half marathons going on at various locations throughout New York City and even in other parts of New York that you may visit for Shabbos. You can easily research the nearest races online and find a location and distance that is right for you.
A new school year is the perfect time to work on some new resolutions, so take advantage of this opportune time and make this school year your healthiest one yet!