Just when I thought I had a lot of goals, I read Alisa Miller’s article on “100 Healthy Habits You Should Start in College.” Each area of your life (like sleep) has seven or eight goals. That’s a lot of goals. And that’s coming from an OCD gal. But this list is to help you the list that I asked you to made. So maybe take ten of them for her list and try to incorporate into your new year.

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I’m just going to give you the first 27 habits.

College is a time of freedom and exploring new opportunities, but it is also a time to establish habits that will shape the rest of your life. The following habits range from physical health, to mental health, to professional health. Read below to find what you can start doing now to set yourself up for a great life to follow.

Sleep

With studying and work and a social life, sleep may frequently get pushed to the back. Find out what you can do to establish good sleep habits now.

Go to bed. Of course you are going to go to bed, but make sure you do it before you feel exhausted. Pushing yourself to stay up for the news or the end of a TV show means you are probably cheating yourself out of your much-needed sleep.

Get a good night’s rest. Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed, leave your worries behind you, and sip some chamomile tea. Here are more tips for how to ensure a great sleep.

Wake up earlier. Give yourself just 30 extra minutes in the morning and you will be amazed at how much more you can accomplish before starting your day. Many people snooze for at least this long, so just try getting out of bed instead.

Don’t snooze. You certainly wouldn’t want to purposely give yourself a poor night’s sleep, so why do you hit the snooze button in the morning? Snoozing guarantees that you will not be getting quality sleep during those last few minutes or hours of the morning. Make a change for a better start to your morning and skip the snooze.

Get a pleasant alarm. Instead of waking up startled, try an alarm that wakes you up gently such as the Zen alarm clock. Establish a pleasant waking experience for a great way to start your days.

Sleep routine. Stick to a routine with consistent bed time and wake-up times. Consistently sleeping at the same time every night provides you with a better chance for a good night’s sleep.

Just sleep enough. The range of sleep a person needs is highly individualized. Some people get by just fine with six hours a night while others need closer to nine. Find out how much sleep you really need.

Eating

Everyone has to do it, but how you do it can make a big difference for your health. Start these healthy habits to guarantee you’re putting the best food in your body.

Breakfast. Eat a healthy breakfast every morning to get your day off to a good start.

Balance. Don’t just live on ramen noodles. Get a balance of several fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins.

Be adventurous. Open your mind and try new foods. Not only will this help you find that balance, it will help you explore interesting possibilities.

Water. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and keep your body running smoothly.

Antioxidants. Eating foods high in antioxidants is not only good for maintaining your health, it is also good for preventing health problems.

Organic. Start buying and eating organic now for benefits to your body, health, and the environment. Read the Organic Guide for news, recipes, and ideas for going organic.

Fast food. The saturated fats and generally poor food quality of fast food is not something you want to keep putting in your body. Reducing fast food as much as you can now is a great habit to start.

Heavily processed food. The preservatives, artificial ingredients, and high fat content of processed foods are not good for the body. Get in the habit of eating foods as close to their source as you can.

White sugar. Refined “table” sugar creates strong fluctuations in blood-sugar levels, which results in a whole host of health problems, including cardiovascular and cholesterol issues. Stick with a more natural sweetener such as honey, cane sugar, or agave.

Olive oil. The oils found in margarine and other processed foods hold a direct link to higher cholesterol, which in turn, leads to less blood flow to the brain. Start using olive oil for a better alternative.

Exercise

Getting in the exercise habit is one thing you will be happy for all your life. The following exercises are easy to do, cost little to no money, and are perfect for fitting into a busy schedule.

Yoga. Yoga is a calming, yet energizing way to exercise your body and your mind. Watch this video to learn how to do a sun salutation series or read about how to do sun salutations at this site.

Run. Get in a quick run any time of the day for an easy, low-cost way to exercise.
Walk. If running isn’t your thing or you just need to give your body a rest, walking is an excellent form of exercise.

Stretch. It can be as simple as bending down to touch your toes or as elaborate as a workout routine, but stretching will get your blood flowing. Try these easy stretches.

Jump rope. Jumping rope isn’t just for kids. This exercise is easy to do at home, doesn’t cost a lot, and gets your heart pumping right away. Why You Should Jump Rope not only answers why, but offers four different techniques and a video demonstrating some techniques.

Swim. Whether you have access to a swimming pool or a natural body of water, swimming is an excellent workout for your body and offers some quiet time for your mind.

Tai Chi. In many Asian countries, it is not unusual to see people outside early in the morning practicing their Tai Chi. Learn more about the benefits from this graceful, low-impact exercise in this article.

Bicycle. Jump on your bike, whether it’s stationary or the traditional kind that can take you places. Cycling is good for your heart and if you are lucky enough to ride outside, the fresh air is good for you too.

Push-ups. While these may bring visions of boot camp or memories of that crazed PE teacher you had in elementary school, push-ups are a great way to exercise and require no extra cost or equipment. Here is one way to do them.

Dance. Fulfill your childhood dream of being a ballerina or just get down with your funky self and make up your own dance steps to your favorite music. Dance is a fun form of exercise that you can do in the privacy of your own room or at a club with friends.

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