Health is wealth: How to navigate fitness at university

Is Freshers life getting a bit much? A lot of drinking, takeaways, but not much movement?

The problem is, uni is not exactly the best environment to keep up with healthy habits, but you have to remember, your health and fitness are fundamental parts of your life! Here are a few tips and tricks that could help get you into the swing of things.

Being healthy and happy begins with a plan. Make sure that you establish a vague routine for university life. All of the lectures, extra clubs and socials that you want to do can get a bit much and overwhelm you. You will feel a lot happier and confident if you have an idea of your goals.

Try when you get up to write a to-do list of things that you would like to get done that day.

In this plan, make sure that you have space for the things you want to achieve, including exercise.

And that is another thing…

Get moving!

You could join the gym - there are plenty of gyms around the area. Some are in the city, but Goodwin Gym is affiliated with the University of Sheffield. At £30 a month, it is fairly pricey so you would need to decide if this is something which is in your budget.

However, it is very conveniently placed by Crookes Valley Park which is nearby the students union and a lot of student housing.

If going to the gym is not really for you, find an exercise related hobby you enjoy. There are plenty of Give It a Go sessions happening at the start of the year for you to find your niche!

You can find all of the sports societies here: https://su.sheffield.ac.uk/activities/filter/12#socListings

Make sure you keep cooking your own meals. Whilst we all love to treat ourselves every now and again, getting takeaways or eating out every week isn’t sustainable at uni.

As well as keeping things cheaper, fresh fruits and veg being used in meals will mean a healthier diet. Cooking for yourself will also help you make sure that your meals include a good balance of carbohydrates, fats and protein.

Remember to have frequent movement throughout the day. It can be hard when very often, University is mostly sitting around on your laptop, but little things can change this.

Walking is a fantastic way for you to keep moving in the day. Walking in between lectures in different buildings rather than taking the bus is such an easy thing to do. Sheffield is a beautiful city full of lots of greenery - go out and explore!

There are so many ways that you can make yourself feel better with fitness and good nutrition. Remember to look after yourself at university!

Edited by Olivia Warburton