Freshman year of college can be scary. New classes, new school, new professors, random roommates, questionable dining hall food, steep hills, just to name a few things. It can be difficult to start healthy habits while also getting used to a new environment. In this article, I’ll be giving some tips on working out for beginners on a new college campus.
Set goals and make a schedule
Start by setting aside time specifically for working out. Start with 2-3 days a week and about 30-45 minutes. You can plug it into a calendar, whether it be writing down in a planner, a reminder on your phone, or google calendar. It can help to pick out a certain type of workout for each day and take note of it – that way, you can jump right in when the time comes.
Start off simple
Your next step is figuring out what workouts to do. You can start off simple- like going on a hot girl walk around campus. For lifting, start off light. No need to max out your first time. Pushing yourself too hard can result in injuries and prevent you from being able to continue your journey. Every gym has sets of weights starting as low as 5lbs.
Set goals
Start setting some goals! Once you plan out when you’re working out and what you’ll be doing, you can start to push yourself more each time. Set a goal of how far you’re going to run by the end of the week; how much weight you want to be able to bench by the end of the month; how many push ups you want to be able to do. These goals will help motivate you to keep working out and challenging yourself.
Online resources
An easy way to get inspiration is always the internet. All over YouTube you can find workout videos, from 10 minute abs to hour long full body workouts. Some examples include Chloe Ting, Pamela Reif, and Madfit. These creators walk you step by step through a workout of your choice, all for free. If you are willing to spend money, getting a peloton account for $12.99 a month is a great option. The app has hundreds of videos for workouts with running, biking, yoga and more.
Find a buddy
Another way to keep yourself motivated is by working out with a friend! Find someone who wants to get started with similar workout habits and do it together. Go on a run around your neighborhood or campus. Head to the campus gym together. Not only can you hold each other accountable, but it makes it more fun!
Starting a workout plan for yourself can seem a little intimidating, but these are just a few steps that can be taken to help ease yourself into the process.