A primary factor to succeeding in nursing school is finding a healthy balance between your school life and private life. This is so important for your overall well-being and ability to learn. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen will make you better both mentally and physically and will greatly reduce the effects of stress that you will experience in nursing school. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out where to start and feel as though you can’t possibly take on another task. There are some changes that can be made to improve overall health and well-being.
Firstly, no matter how much someone exercises, they will not be able to outwork a poor diet. Part of setting yourself up for success is finding a diet, sticking to it, and planning everything out. At the beginning of the week, you can do meal preparation to make dishes that are easy to grab and take on the go for long clinical or lecture days. Bringing healthy snacks, such as nuts, protein shakes, veggies, etc. can help you resist the urge grab something quick at a fast-food restaurant or high sugar items from vending machines. Using a large water bottle can help with water intake, curb your appetite and ensure you are getting adequate hydration for the day. Maintaining these habits can help to ensure you know what you are putting into your body.
There are countless types of exercise available that you can find online and even watch videos that will walk you through proper form- also, remember that the best exercise is one that you will actually do. When you are just beginning, it is important to find an activity that you enjoy doing. If you do not like the form of exercise, you are less likely to remain committed. First, you can commit to exercising a few times per week, and then eventually increase that frequency to 4-5 times per week. This will not only help with weight maintenance, but also cardiovascular health, improvement of mood, better sleep, and a number of other benefits. Finding 30 minutes to work out in between study sessions is a great way to incorporate two tasks into one.
There is no hidden secret to good health, it comes down to consistency. If you stay committed to making better choices with food and moving your body every day, results will follow. In addition to the physical benefits, cognition, mood stabilization, stress relief, and sleep improvements can all result from exercise. Finding the right balance of diet and exercise can make for a great way to improve your nursing school experience while taking control of your health at the same time.