College life is hard– and finding balance amongst all the academic and social work can be more difficult than one might expect.

Coming into my college campus, I for one was shocked by how much harder the work hard play hard balance was than I expected. After spending roughly half a year at college, I now feel more confident in my ability in maintaining a healthy balance at college.

Without further ado, here are some tips to stay your healthiest self at college:

1. Carry An Empty Water Bottle With You

It can be hard to carry around a heavy water bottle with you. Opt to bring around a lightweight bottle with you and fill it as you go. Staying hydrated is key in college!

2. Get a Gym Buddy

Going to the gym can be daunting. A college gym is somehow the scariest place because it seems like everyone but you knows what they are doing.

Having a friend there can make everything feel less scary, and doing the workouts together will also help you take accountability and actually get through your routines without giving up. Plus, it’s just so much more fun!

3. Prioritize Protein

Making sure you are getting enough protein in your diet is so important, especially if you want to prioritize having muscle over fat. Look over the foods you are eating to make sure it has some protein value.

Tip: I personally love opting for protein shakes and Greek yogurt as an easy and convenient way to increase my protein intake.

4. Choose the Healthier Options

Just because a food seems healthy doesn’t mean they are actually healthy. Instead of friend meals, try to look for items with words like “fresh” or “whole” or “grilled.”

5. Walk Where You Can

Choose to walk to places on your college campus. It can be convenient to simply take the bus or a car ride, but walking everywhere can be so wonderful for your body and also your mind. Use that time to bop to some mood-boosting music, call your friends and family, or simply destress.

Walking around everywhere in college makes it so easy to hit at least 10,000 steps a day!

6. Have A Gratitude Journal

It can be hard keeping up with a diary, but a 1-sentence gratitude journal is definitely doable. Celebrate all things big and small. A grateful mind attracts itself to great things, and this is a great low commitment way to boost your mental health.