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Physical Balance
Home » College Life » Balance in College » Physical BalanceFor an unknown reason, some people believe that they can separate their physical life from their mental, social, and emotional life without a problem. However, this perception is not only inaccurate but also unwise. The body will perform as well as it has been treated; so in order to prevent your body from breaking down halfway through the semester, getting sick when you’re trying to study, or not having the energy to hang out with friends – you have to find physical balance just as you find balance with the other aspects of your life.
First of all, consider your sleep schedule. Meeting new people is important; academics are important; and reminiscing with your sister on the phone is important. But without the proper amount of sleep, your body will not continue to support the lifestyle you are pursuing. College students need at least eight hours of sleep a night and actually perform better on nine. If you really like staying up late, schedule later classes. If you need to talk to your roommate about the lights going out at a certain time, do it. You don’t need to sleep all day; that wouldn’t be healthy either. But you must ensure that your body gets its much needed rest.
Next, exercise. This doesn’t mean you have to lift weights every day. It could just mean walking to your classes instead of driving (as long as they’re not all in the same building). But the body needs cardio exercise (that means get your heart rate up) for at least 30 minutes four times a week. Not only will it keep your body in shape (and maybe work on those freshman 15), it will also relieve some stress and help you sleep better. Once again, find balance. Too much time spent in the gym rather than fulfilling your other responsibilities is also unhealthy. Build a daily routine that will help keep your body healthy and capable of handling the things you put it through.
Finally, learn to rest. Although it may be hard to do when you’re so busy, teach yourself to take healthy breaks. Studying too much, working too much, and playing too much will burn you out; fit quiet times into your schedule when your mind and body can recuperate. Once again, do this with balance; laziness is often called “rest.” Find your body’s needed balance between work and rest, and stick to it.
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