5 Ways to Take Control of your Health as a Student

Taking care of yourself for the first time without your parents to pay the bills can be daunting. But skimping on your medical care is not the answer.

Unfortunately being an adult means you have to actually act like an adult at times. And that means taking control of your medical care.

My dad’s a doctor, so medical care has always been a topic of conversation in my house, and I’ve always understood its importance. It can be easy, though, when you are in your early twenties to just think “Hey, I feel fine, so there’s no real reason for me to spend all this money on medical care when I’m just dandy!” The truth is, though, it’s important to get into good health habits early in your adulthood so that those habits stick with you! Also, even if you feel fine, it’s good to get check ups and be proactive in preventing future issues. So there’s really no downside to being dedicated to keeping up your medical care. And that’s why I’m so excited to partner with Firmoo today to be able to talk to you about self-care in college!

Today I’m going to give you 5 things to invest in to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a college student.  

1. Your posture 

Students are always slouching over a computer or lugging tons of books around campus and walking for hours. And that can take a huge toll on your back! I have TMJ, which is an issue with my jaw, which is aggravated by tightness in my shoulders, back and neck so I am very conscious of when I’m not treating my muscles the way I should.

Posture is huge part of medical care that can significantly impact your quality of life. Having good posture minimizes pain and increases mobility as you age. So here are three things you can do in college to maintain good posture:

Work sitting at a desk

This is something I’m very bad at doing–I love to work flopped down on the couch. However, that also makes my neck really stiff the next day and I always regret it. Get a good chair with back support and study at a desk instead of slouched over on the couch.

Get a good backpack

PLEASE do not just sling your 25-pound book bag over your shoulder every day. It’s quite terrible for your back. Instead, invest in a good backpack that distributes the weight equally. It’ll make it seem lighter and you’ll feel less stiff at the end of the day!

Get up and be active

Don’t forget to stretch or to go for a walk a few times a day. Having a bit of activity can help you strengthen muscles you need for healthy posture and make you more aware of how you’re carrying yourself.

2. Your nutrition 

I don’t understand why the whole “freshman 15” thing is so readily accepted as a fact. That being said, I also never lived in res so I didn’t have res food and always had to make my own. But just because something is likely doesn’t mean it should be accepted! 

The great thing about college is that you’re at the point in life where you can start making habits that will become patterns that follow you throughout your adult life. Health is one of those habits. Yeah, it can be a bit extra time and money to eat healthy all the time, that’s just a fact. But that is an investment that, in my opinion, is completely and utterly worth it!

An important thing to understand about this, too, is that being healthy does not mean you need to be a size 2. Actually, I think that the majority of us would be quite UNhealthy if we were a size 2! What this means is that you are fuelling your body with what it needs to help you stay focused and stay healthy. That should be the focus, not losing weight.

3. Your teeth 

Look at your school’s health plan to see if you have dental coverage and then use it! Most schools do have at least one dental appointment covered a year, so make sure you’re using the resources available to you.

4. Your yearly check-ups

Does your school offer on-campus clinics? Are there doctors in your area accepting new patients? Research these questions for your school and try to book an appointment with a campus doctor at least once a year for a check-up. I was pretty lucky and found a family doctor my first year here at school, but even for those of you who could not find a family doctor, the free clinic at school often does check-ups for students who make appointments!

Getting a physical examination is important to make sure that everything is still working well and that you are healthy. It’s an important aspect of medical care and hey–if you’re in Canada, it’s free!

5. Your eyes

Being a student means endless hours staring at a screen and reading tiny texts. Your eyes are in constant strain! That’s why it’s so important to invest in a good pair of glasses to make sure your eyes are taken care of. 

I recently received a pair of glasses from Firmoo, and I am loving them! They got to me exactly when they said would arrive (7 business days), and they fit perfectly. It was perfect timing, too–I have a permanent blind spot on my old pair because of how scratched they were! Yikes! I’ll be taking much better care of these ones, that’s for sure. Also, look how cute the case and the microfibre cloth are!

As well, a great feature that I loved was that it came with this eyeglasses-repair-kit in a keychain. When you take it all apart, it has two tiny screwdrivers, and they all go together to make a keychain that’s super easy to have with you at all times. Considering how many times my glasses have broken in the past and I’ve had to fix them with tape, I very much appreciate this.

Firmoo offers a great selection of glasses within very reasonable prices. As well, you can create an account and add in your prescription information and then if you buy another pair later you don’t need to re-enter all of those numbers! It’s a very streamlined process with adorable frames and dependable service.

I really like the pair I got! What do you think?

Self-care in college is so important, and keeping up with all aspects of your medical care shouldn’t be pushed aside!

What are some ways you are actively making sure you’re keeping up with your medical care as a student? Any tips?

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