College Health Survival Guide: Tips for Wellness, Nutrition and Mental Health

Going to college is a large change in both lifestyle and habits, compared to high school. Students will be living away from parental supervision and will oversee taking care of themselves. When transitioning to a new living environment, it is important to remember the risk of exposure to bacteria your body may not be used to. To help ward off these bacteria, vitamin consumption and healthy eating are a must. Finding a sufficient variety of tasty and healthy options may be a challenge in a college cafeteria setting. However, with the right supplements and choices you can help your body adjust to new food and nutrition intake. Managing gut health is not easy in college but vitamins can assist in your body’s processing of food.

Gut health tips:

• Consider taking magnesium glycinate as it is a great option for helping your body process nutrients and reduce water retention.
• Take walks after eating.
• Properly hydrate and get quality sleep.

Because accidents happen, make sure to have a medical kit in your dorm to treat minor injuries or pains. Sunscreen is also a must as a lot of socializing at college occurs outside and it is important to protect your skin from UV rays. This will help keep your skin healthy while still allowing you to get vitamin D from the sun.

All college campuses have student health resources available to students, online or in person. These resources are a good use of one’s time as adapting to a new environment can be challenging, but find what works for you. Going on walks or having a spot where you can decompress and let your worries and stresses fade is very important to long-term success. Finding the time to have moments to yourself helps in relaxing among the constant social interaction that comes from college. Activities and hobbies are essential to your mental health as joining clubs on campus provides an opportunity to put your efforts into something other than your grades and form new relationships.

Regular cleaning of your space can help prevent illness and improve mental health as well as keep your roommate happy. Take your cleaning to the next level with an air purifier, which helps to remove dust and pollen from the air, lowering your chances of respiratory illness. Having your own snacks can also help when in between classes or activities and without enough time to go back to your dorm room.