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Now that Orientation is over, you may be looking back and realizing that it was a complete whirlwind of a week consumed of unpacking, sporadic eating and exercising, visiting friends and partying.
Consuming those extra “empty” calories and feeling anxious or overwhelmed with the whole “move-in” process can definitely take a toll on your body.
Starting classes in this state is not the best way to begin a new semester.
If you feel the need to “detox” and relax a bit there are a few ways to get both your mind and body back on track for the new school year.
Bypass the dessert bar for a few days. if you’d rather consume the “empty” calories from drinks such as juice, soda or alcohol at the next party, it would be helpful to avoid sugary desserts.
If the dessert is too tempting to avoid, drink water or milk instead of something full of sugar. choose your poison. but, to avoid the freshman 15 I would advise you to choose the latter.
Exercise. This is probably a tip that fits under almost any “wellness” category but for good reason. Exercising provides massive benefits for both your body and mind.
Yes, your body will thank you after you take that 30 minute jog, but exercising can also relieve the stress you feel with classes starting. Take advantage of the warm, sunny weather and go for a run or just head to the gym. I must warn you though … the extra endorphins you’ll experience are addicting
Stay in for a few nights. “Going out” is great, especially during orientation week when there are events almost every night; however, being out late for multiple nights in a row can mess with your circadian rhythm (basically, your sleep schedule). Trust me, completing your first class assignments will be impossibly difficult if your brain is not well-rested. And who doesn’t love a great movie night?
Eat smarter. Meeting daily vitamin and mineral requirements will do wonders for your mind and body. Iron and vitamin B are especially important for maintaining necessary energy to stay focused and study.
Spinach, red meat and kidney beans are a few ways to make sure your iron levels stay normal
Vitamin B is found in whole grain, eggs and nuts so eat up!
Consider a detox drink.
No, I’m not referring to some weird olive oil/herb drink.
Water with lemon, ginger tea and green tea naturally cleanse the body of toxins. They are also quite relaxing at the end of a long and stressful day.
What you want to be careful of is excess caffeine. Unfortunately, that will not help the feeling of being overwhelmed or cleanse your body from the calorie overload during orientation week.
Honestly, any herbal or caffeine-free tea is awesome and there are SO MANY flavors it’s virtually impossible not to find a flavor you like.
The best tip for recovering from a week like orientation week is to take it slow. you do not have to do everything or be at every event.
Just relax, get yourself into a routine and have a great year.