Five Ways to Stay Feeling Healthy (Even if You’re Not)

Starting a new year at university is one of the times when staying fit and healthy usually takes a back seat. Chances are your body will be taking quite a bit of punishment at the moment, with late nights, alcohol and a ‘creative' diet not especially helping.

Whilst it is pretty unrealistic to think that you can stay at the peak of health throughout university, you can at least make yourself feel as though you're reasonably healthy. Here we have our top five tips to achieve just that during the busy first months at university. Some are just plain, good advice for staying healthy, others are cheats that can trick your body in to thinking everything is well.

1) Exercise

Ok this is not exactly revolutionary advice, but it's amazing how much better you feel after doing some exercise, even if its just a walk into lectures. Whilst the university sports centre may seem expensive now, believe me, it is waayyy cheaper than regular sports centres, so make use of it.

Find a friend who enjoys the same sport as you and set a time and day each week that you play against each other. Make it competitive and you're less likely to duck out with a hangover. One more thing- for the next 6 months, indoors is better, as bad weather can be an easy excuse to stay in bed.

2) Vegetables

Again, pretty obvious stuff, but there really is no reason not to eat vegetables at university. They are cheaper than meat and ready-meals, they are ridiculously easy to cook (Boil water. Put vegetables in said water. Take vegetables out of water.) and when covered in butter they're tasty.

You're body will soak up the nutrients like a hungry sponge and you'll be feeling healthier within a few days.

3) Big Breakfasts

Waking up early is never fun, especially if you've been out the night before. The best way to kick-start your body is with a BIG breakfast. Whether you've got the time to cook up a Full English with bacon, sausages, mushrooms, egg and toast, or you simply whip up a big bowl of porridge, you'll be feeling ready for (almost) anything by the time you finish eating.

4) Berocca

Right, this one is a bit of a cheat, but it certainly does the trick. If you haven't heard of it, Berocca is basically a tablet you put in a glass of water which then fizzes up to make a luminous drink. It has like a million percent of your recommended daily allowance for loads of vitamins and basically gives your body a temporary and fake, but oh so welcome, boost.

Think of it as kind of like Lucozade on steroids that is really good at convincing your body that it is actually healthy.

5) Caffeine

Caffeine may be an old classic, but that doesn't make it any less helpful in the quest of creating a false feeling of healthiness. You don't need me to explain the benefits of having some good coffee in the house at all times.

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