This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Illinois chapter.

Staying healthy in college is something that is probably on most peoples’ minds, but isn’t always the easiest thing to achieve or keep up with. Here are a few ways to boost your health in college without overworking yourself or becoming obsessive.

1. Drink 2 bottles of water everyday

Drinking lots of water is one of the easiest and best things you can do for yourself. Not only will it help you physically, but it will also benefit your energy levels and brain functioning. It’s also not a great idea to drink your calories when dining hall food already isn’t all that healthy.

2. Incorporate a fruit and vegetable in each meal

Aside from fruits and vegetables obviously being a great addition to your diet and eating habits, having one or both at each meal also makes me feel like I have my life more together. Remember in middle school when you were taught the food pyramid and how many servings of everything you were supposed to eat a day? Fresh produce may not be all that accessible in college, but the effort is better than nothing!

3. Go to bed at a decent time

Sleep is the one thing I find consistently affects both my mood and my academic performance. If possible, go to sleep at a semi-normal time most weeknights. If you have a late schedule, try going to bed 30 minutes earlier each night until you get to midnight or 11 pm. Falling asleep in class is totally preventable if you save yourself the night before.

4. Treat yourself on the weekends

While most students don’t have money to blow in college, treating yourself never hurt anybody. If you stay healthy during the week, a Starbucks or froyo will be a nice little treat and reward for all your efforts during the week. When Monday rolls around, get back on track, but remember – depriving yourself isn’t healthy either.

5. Workout when it fits into your schedule

If your schedule is pretty consistent, it’ll be pretty simple to figure out a schedule when working out will fit in. If you want to get into a routine, try starting with a few days a week – going every day in general can cause you to be unhealthy and get obsessive about it. However, working out will increase your energy levels and can increase performance in school and other activities.

6. Keep up with your sickness

It’s inevitable that you’re going to get sick in college. Living in such close quarters with people who are sick or just don’t take care of themselves makes it pretty easy to catch whatever other people have – gross! Take precautions in your room and disinfect weekly. If you feel a cold coming on, take some cold meds and incorporate more vitamin C into your meals that week. It’s easier to get over sicknesses before they happen than during the time you have it.

7. Get out of the house (or dorm!)

Staying sedentary in your dorm or studying in bed can either cause you to get lazy or just go stir crazy. Personally, I can’t study in a dorm environment – I need to be around other people studying and listening to music and background noise. Getting out of the house and trying out a new study spot or just taking a jog to the ARC instead of using the gym in your apartment or dorm will help you get some fresh air and will force you to get moving a few times a day!

Hopefully these tips can help you stay on top of your health while in college and will help you feel just a little bit healthier!

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Little Steps to a Healthy College Lifestyle