Staying Healthy at School

Hey ladies! This year is going to be a whirlwind of excitement and you're not going to want to miss a single second. That means you need to keep yourself up and running on all cylinders, so here's some of the key ingredients to staying healthy at school:

1. Sleep: I put this one first because it the one you'll most likely ignore. But don't! Those 8 hours (or 6....or 4) are the important because they fuel you for the next day. Even when the semester gets busy with projects and exams, don't forget to give your noggin the rest it deserves.  Plus don't you want to be as happy as the little baby?

2. Exercise: Whether you are training for the Mt. Nittany half marathon or more of a Zumba kind of girl, there is always some way to get active around Penn State. Grab a friend and get a gym membership, go for a run through the trails at the Arburetum, sign up for the Thon 5k or the ColorRun, join a club sport or IM  team...the possibilities are endless. And if you need a running partner or one more player in a game of soccer or ultimate Frisbee, hit me up, I'd love to join!

3. Healthy eating: Or at least trying... :) The dining halls are great, but with creamery ice cream always

available it can be hard to convince yourself to squeeze in some veggies too. Whether you're a health conscious eater or not, fueling your body up with good food will keep you doing your best in classes and in all your other adventures around campus, too.

P.S. If you have dietary restrictions or want more info about dining hall eating, keep your eyes peeled for future blog topics!

4. Keep everything in moderation: This is really the key to it all. Keeping yourself healthy doesn't have to take extra energy, just a little prioritizing. Keeping a good balance of exercise, sleep, and nutritious food in your crazy schedule will pay off when you have the energy to do your best. Take care of yourself first, and then you'll be able to take care of everything that comes your way.

BUT If you do get sick at school (and it happens to most of us sooner or later) there's plenty of help around. University Helath Services (UHS) is right on campus. Beyond the typical medical checkup, they also have resources for depression, sleep disorders, and many other physical or mental ailments. If UHS isn't able to help, there are several pharmacies around town and a hospital nearby for more serious cases. If you're worried about missing class because you're sick, just email your professor (before the class you are missing) and have a trusty friend hand in any homework due or take notes for you. Then get back in bed, drink some OJ, call your mentor if you need anything, and focus on getting better :)

I always call my mom first (of course), but if you need to see a doctor or get medication,

Here's to a happy, healthy freshman year! Cheers, and see you in August!

Rachel Perini is a junior in Mechanical Engineering, and she is a Mentor for WEPO '14!

Staying Healthy in College AKA Avoiding the Freshman 15

Everyone's heard of the Freshman 15, that little extra pudge people seem to come home with after being off at college and being responsible for their own health and well-being. It can be tricky to stay in shape and keep you body running at 100% with the craziness of classes, homework, meetings, and everything else going on in your new college life. Here's a couple things to keep in mind this semester so you don't get an F in health.

1. Keep priorities straight

YES you are here to get a great education, and you will, but you have to keep yourself healthy to get the most out of your days. If you are coming down with the flu, sleep deprived, mal-nourished, or stressed all the time, it will be hard to concentrate and keep yourself motivated and thinking positive. From there it's a slippery slope to Lazyville :(

Keeping yourself healthy doesn't have to take extra energy, just a little prioritizing. Keeping a good balance of exercise, sleep, and nutritious food in your crazy schedule will pay off when you have the energy to do your best. Take care of yourself first, and then you'll be able to take care of everything that comes your way.

2. To get a gym pass, or to pass on the gym?

Speaking as someone who did a semester without a gym membership, and one with it, I'd say it's worth the extra money. My first fall semester I figured I would just run outside to keep in shape, which I did, until it got cold and gross outside. My roommate practically lived at the gym, so I gave it a shot spring semester and definitely got my money's worth. Some friends and I went to a lot of the classes together (kickboxing, and calorie killer were our favorites) , and it was nice to be able to go de-stress at the gym whenever I wanted no matter what it was like outside.

P.S. the best hours to go are early morning when it's not crowded!

3. Hit the gym while you hit the books

Sometimes people get a gym pass and then hardly end up using it because they have too much work to do and not enough time in a day. Well guess what, you can study and work out at the same time! My roommate and I would often read for chem while on the stationary bikes, or go through flashcards while we did the treadmill or other cardio equipment. When my body is focused on pedaling or running, my mind can focus on what I'm studying so I don't get as distracted, and end up getting a work out too. It doesnt work for everyone; Some people would rather just dedicate a certain time every day to exercise, and that's great too! But if you are a multi-tasker or can't stay focused at the library, try this. Everyone else at the gym is in the zone and getting something accomplished, so you will feel motivated to do the same.

4. Take advantage of the nice weather

As you may have heard, the nice weather won't last forever around here in PA :(   So while it's still nice (and especially at the beginning of the year when you're not swamped with work yet) get out and explore! My favorite way of getting to know my way around campus and downtown was to go running, but you can walk around with the roommate and  explore the Arboretum and the woods/trails behind it too before the cold sets in. You may find some really cool places, and get exercise while you're at it!

5. Walk to class

This goes along with the previous tip. Penn State is a big, beautiful campus... use it to your advantage! Even if your class is all the way across campus, it probably won't take more than 15-20 mins to walk depending on your pace, which really isn't that bad. Leave a few minutes early and enjoy the walk, solo or with a friend; getting fresh air always cleared my head before or after a rough class or quiz. Some days I would walk almost 5 miles without even realizing it. Save the CATA busses for a rainy day; you can walk to Thomas or Hammond faster than the bus gets there anyway!

6. All You Can Eat ≠ Eat All You Can

The dining commons at PSU are buffet style, but beware of overfilling your tray just because you can. I liked going to the commons with a group of friends because it was a good way to see each other, I don't like eating alone in my room, and it felt more like family dinners back home. You spend more time catching up with people you care about than wondering if you really want to go get a third helping of soft serve and a West Cookie for the road... It's better to keep some snacks around for late nights and long days than it is to stuff yourself at the commons anyway.

7. There's an App for that

If you've got a SmartPhone, hit up the App Store to help you keep yourself healthy. Here are my recommendations (all free of course): Dining@PSU has the menus for all the commons, and calories for each thing being served that day. Speaking of which, if you count calories, use Lose-It to list out whatever you've eaten  that day, it can be surprising! When you want to burn off some creamery ice cream, use iRunner or Run+ to keep track of how much you have run or walked. The CATA app shows where all the busses are so you know if it's worth waiting 15 mins for the next blue loop, or if you should just walk. And at the end of the day, SleepTime monitors your sleep so you know how much good rest you're really getting and will wake you up when you are in light sleep mode so you're not as groggy.

Rachel Perini is a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering and a Rover for WEPO'13!  To read more about Rachel visit her WEPO Profile: http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!rachel-perini/c9hl