If you’ve just started college in Delhi, and are living in, say, a hostel in Mayur Vihar, keeping fit can be a difficult task to accomplish. Because in between lectures, societies, parties and building a whole new social life, it’s tough to stick to diets or exercise regimens. Plus Delhi has got a wide and delicious variety of food for you to sample, making it difficult to keep your waistline in check. So, how can you ensure your fitness goals are met, even when you’re studying in college?
We’ve got the answer for you. Our four step process will help you get back on track or get started with your fitness journey. So, you don’t need to worry about doing damage control or causing a huge upheaval to your lifestyle. Our easy-to-follow method will ensure you’re able to make health and fitness a part of your daily life without going out of the way. So, if that sounds good to you, let’s get started.
Baby Steps
When you’re in college, there’s too much excitement and activity going on on campus for you to be spending all your time thinking about fitness goals. You already have your class timetable to manage and may not want to add an exercise regimen on top of that. That’s why we recommend starting small. The first step on your fitness journey is changing your mindset towards it. You don’t need to spend hours at the gym to be active. Going for a walk everyday works just as well. And it’s the cheapest and healthiest means of transport. So, go ahead and walk to your closest chemist or grocery store instead of taking an auto rickshaw. Once you’ve got used to incorporating walks into your lifestyle, you can build up on it by increasing the duration or even adding in a jog for some cardio. Feel free to alternate your walks and runs for a DIY interval training which can work wonders.
Swap Smartly
Your fitness routine will never be sustainable if it requires you to go totally out of your way or makes inconvenient expectations. Instead, for best results, you should see what elements of your existing routine and lifestyle you can swap for a healthier goal. The simplest solution is by taking the stairs instead of the lift as much as possible. It’ll keep you active in the middle of your busy schedule, and even help tone your leg muscles. Walk instead of taking transport when possible. And if you have the time, consider taking the longer route to class – you’ll be on your feet for a larger duration and you might also get to explore some places you don’t normally visit.
Eat Right (most of the time)
Ask anyone in their first year of college and they’ll tell you that without your parents nagging at you to eat healthy, you pretty much depend on fast food for your survival. Keeping track of your diet can be difficult when you’re on your own. That’s why we’re not insisting on strict diets or cutting out junk food altogether. Instead, we suggest moderation. Cheat days are totally fine as long as you’re eating right for most of the week. Even if you’re out for a pizza party with friends, feel free to indulge but don’t go overboard. By restricting the amount of unhealthy food you’re putting into your system, you’ll be doing yourself (and your wallet) a huge favour. And don’t forget about the hidden calories in many common foods. Making small swaps like skipping the soft drinks for water, avoiding sugar in your tea or coffee, choosing whole wheat bread instead of white etc. can help you avoid them.
Clear your mind
Between your hectic schedule in college and the noise and crowd in your hostel in Civil Lines, Delhi, it’s probably difficult for you to find any time for yourself. That can lead to stress, and stress is the worst enemy of your fitness journey. Because experiencing stress and anxiety can take a huge strain on your mind and body and make you prone to fatigue and illness. So, it’s important to take care of your mind on a daily basis too. Yoga and pranayama technique can be easily integrated into your fitness routine to help you battle stress and calm your mind and body. Or you could download meditation apps like HeadSpace or Calm to help you clear your thoughts and reflect.
If you incorporate these four easy steps into your daily routine in college, you’ll find your fitness journey has kicked off on a high note. So, go ahead and try them out, and don’t let anyone stop you from reaching your goals.
