Tips for Staying Healthy and Happy

It’s no secret that this pandemic has had an impact on society’s mental health, especially for college students, as our lives have been halted in their tracks — just when we thought we were going somewhere!

If you live somewhere with seasons, like me, it can get even more difficult. Pandemic depression paired with seasonal depression is no joke and can really affect the way we take care of ourselves. That’s why it’s so important to motivate yourself to stay happy and healthy.

Diet and activity are two major components of your physical and mental health. Both the pandemic and the drop in temperatures can affect the way you eat and exercise, which is why it’s important to pay attention to both. Here are some tips to help you stay more active and maintain better eating habits.

Drink lots of water.  On average, you should be drinking an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day, based on your body weight, climate, and activity levels. If you’d like to find out how much water you should be drinking, try this hydration intake calculator. If you’re like me and have trouble achieving your water intake goal, here is some advice:

• Use an app to keep track of how much you’re drinking. You can personalize them to your goal and they will help remind you.
• Drink detox waters. I love waking up in the morning and drinking a glass of water with lemon which, coincidentally, is also great for the skin. Sometimes I add cucumber too, which makes it even more refreshing. Experiment with flavors and you may find yourself drinking more water!
• Purchase a reusable water bottle. I love my hydro flask, but there are a million other water bottles out there too. Having one nearby will help increase your water intake. Reusable water bottles are also great for the environment. Cut your plastic use and increase your hydration!

Watch what you are eating and how often. I recently started paying attention to ingredients and serving sizes — watching that I don’t overeat or eat unhealthily. This means making heartier breakfasts or opting for a protein shake, eating healthier snacks, and overall just making sure I’m not gorging every hour or so out of boredom.

Exercising can seem so daunting when there’s the fear of COVID and shorter days to get things done, but that shouldn’t stop you. College students love the word ‘free’ and you know what is? Exercising! Just the smallest amount of movement and fresh air will improve your mood—and whatever you choose to do, make sure you’re following your local public health guidelines to keep yourself and the people around you healthy.

• Try going for a walk around your neighborhood every day.
• Go on an outdoor adventure. Download an app like AllTrails to see hiking trails in your area and make it a goal to visit one that looks interesting. Make sure to bring a mask with you as a courtesy as there could be other people on the trail.
• Watch Blogilates by WC’s own Cassey Ho ’09. My friend from home first told me about Cassey and her fitness channel on YouTube back in July and how much she loved her videos. I didn’t watch any but then I found out Cassey Ho graduated from Whittier College. After reading that she met her husband in the Center for Advising & Academic Success (some motivation for getting tutoring), I had to view her fitness videos. She’s super friendly and upbeat and has great videos for beginners. Plus, she has free workout calendars on her website if you want to get serious.

These are a few things I’ve been trying in quarantine in an attempt to improve my health and increase my activity. My mood has improved and I feel a lot more in control of my health both mentally and physically. If you’ve found yourself in a rut as we continue in these strange times, consider some of these tips!