When returning to college, the land of tinned beans and pasta in a pot, it’s very difficult to stay on track of good fitness and health. There will be days you plan a trip to the gym but somehow find yourself in the college bar instead, then there will be days you are so stressed out with assignment overload you forget the word ‘exercise’ even exists. So, a week goes by without even realising and you’re struggling to motivate yourself to get out of bed until you realise you can’t remember the last time you even saw a treadmill. Fear no more, I have conducted a list of simple tips to help you fit exercise into your college routine.

Wake up early: When we wake up in the early hours of the morning, getting out of bed seems like the last thing you want to do; especially if you don’t have college. Sometimes, getting up early in the morning and exercising first thing, leaves you feeling good and wide awake for the entire day. Even if you missed an hour of sleep, you will feel so much better and good about yourself for the rest of the day.

Don’t depend on other people: You might not realise it yet, but this could be why you haven’t left your house in a week. We all know someone or are someone that procrastinates and whose favourite words are ‘in another hour’, which soon turns into ‘lets give today a miss’. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of dogma, waiting on other people to go to the gym even though you planned on going an hour ago, then ending up eating takeaway instead because ‘everyone is doing it’. The best thing to do is take the first step and go for a run on your own, or use that yearly gym membership card that’s starting to go dusty.

Stop saying ‘I’ll wait till Monday’: This is a trap. Sometimes I think we should just get rid of the day Monday so everyone can stop saying that; because lets face it, who likes Monday? Stop giving out about doing nothing and start today, you will feel so much better once you do a bit of exercise.

Do it for your mental health: Rather than thinking, ‘I need to lose weight’ or ‘I want a six pack’, think of your mental health and your body. When we exercise the neurotransmitters ‘Dopamine’ and ‘Serotonin’ are released which are also known as a happy hormones; boosting your energy and mood. Even though exercising can sometimes be tough and painful, you will always notice a lift in your mood after which makes it worth it.

Eat healthy: I know people hate hearing this, but eating fruit and veg can really leave you with a happy tummy, body and mood; this will make you more inclined to do some exercise. Instead of being in a food coma after a takeaway – gone – wrong. Try make smoothies to kick start your day or include some greens in your daily meals.

Bring a gear bag to college: If you plan to go to the gym between lectures or after college, bring the gear bag with you. This will encourage you to go and it will be hard to avoid the thought with a sore arm from carrying that bag around all day.

Plan your week: At the start of the week pick two or three days you want to exercise or go to the gym. Despite all of the external people and factors that will try to sway you away from exercising, make it a priority for those days and you will get into good healthy habits in no time.