Healthy ways to improve your days

Shelby Kramer

Take the long way home

Instead of jumping on CyRide every chance you get, try hoofing it across campus. Nowadays the sun is shining and the air is fresh, so get out and enjoy spring while working those leg muscles.

 

Get your beauty sleep

Warm nights can be a terrible tease for staying up all night, but you must desist. Getting plenty of sleep each night can make a drastic difference on your school performance, work performance and relationships. Naps count, too, so wipe the sweat off your brow and get snoozing.

 

If you’re ready to commit to something, tell other people about it

Everyone hates that friend that “vows to start toning her body” every couple months, only to give a half-hearted attempt, phase out of it and restart the cycle after some time. There’s a good chance that you’ll end up feeling like an ass if you tell someone of your plans and you don’t follow through. Make a public commitment because it might be extra motivation to get work done.

 

Don’t forget to treat yourself

Trying to live a fit life doesn’t mean 100% whole foods 100 percent of the time, calorie counting 24/7 or eating meager portions every meal. Life is hardly fun without a little excess. Go ahead and drink your fill at this Friday’s party, overeat at Christmas din-din and get that slice of pie. Sometimes, but not all the time. Treat yourself in moderation. 

 

Treating yourself to food, an experience, a movie night or whatever else can be good motivation for reaching important goals you’ve set. You finally ran four miles at an ideal pace? Go ahead and get that full-body massage. You’ve avoided sweets for the last two weeks? That new pair of jeans has your name written all over it.

 

Stick to your workout timing like you stick to appointment timing

Leave nothing to chance. Schedule your workout times and don’t let your unpredictable days get in the way of hitting the gym or being outside. There shouldn’t be any excuses if you allocated your time already.

 

Take out your stress on exercise, not food

It can be too easy to get home, hit the couch and devour a bag of Cheetos to soothe the pain of an unsatisfactory grade. Don’t give into the temptation. Working out eases your mind and generally makes you feel great, plus it’s obviously good for you. It’s a win-win. Just foster the motivation to get out there and do it.