Staying Healthy On Campus

Elabor Awelu

Our health status plays a vital role in our day to day activities and if constant attention is not paid to how we maintain a good health condition, we stand to suffer a lot from the consequences. A perfect state of health is a utopian fantasy that each and every one of us aspires to attain but cannot achieve. The notable definition of health according to WHO, as the “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity” has been widely criticized by many scholars as untrue as a complete healthy living is not totally achievable because health is a dynamic concept.

Nevertheless, the onus lies with us to see to it that our health takes priority even before our academics and there are several ways by which we can maintain a healthy lifestyle as a student and manage stress.

1. Get good sleep
It is said that the general health and wellbeing of students are influenced by getting enough sleep. Students should receive the recommended amount of sleep each night to help them concentrate better, stay focused, and perform better in class. Most times, many students tend to be very busy throughout the day thereby only having the nights to read. However, not having a good sound sleep could affect the well being of students drastically as it increases the risk of various health issues in the body. The deprivation of one sleep can lead to some of the following health conditions: Depression and Anxiety, Behavioural disorder, heath decline, poor mental health, weight increase etc.
If proper care is not taken as a result of academic pursuits, the effects might lead many students to the hospital/ clinic.

2. Eat a healthy Diet
Another bigger health challenge we students encounter in school is the inability to maintain a healthy diet on campus and this is what causes major illnesses. This is majorly due to lack of time and lack of funds.
Prioritizing eating healthy can be difficult to manage in school, and at our age it’s even more difficult because we’re kind of barely getting our grasp on being adults. Some students wake up during the weekdays to go to class as early as 7am and during the period of the day, jumping from one lecture theatre to another and the most readily available foods are junkies which also have adverse effects on our body system too. As students, having a well planned food Time Table and the eagerness to eat good food will go a long way to improve overall well being and reduce going to the clinic so often.

3. Exercise Regularly
With swift lifestyle changes in school, moving out of home, making new friends, partying and studying it’s also important that we students find ways to stay active by engaging in exercise most times.
Even though some students feel they have no spare time for exercises as they are being faced by the rigors of academics in school, let’s some time consider taking at least 30 minutes 3 times a week to go to gym or participate in a fitness class, attending swimming session, doing some weight lifting, or in any other physical activities we enjoy.
With regular exercise, we will feel less stress, more energised, have improved memory and cognitive performance, plus it will help to stay fit and toned.

4. Balance Your Commitments
Commitment to too many organizations on campus is another problem. It causes the deterioration of health of some students and some of them don’t realise this. However, placing a balance will not only help rejuvenate your well being big but also create more time to do some other relevant activities in school.