Health, Fitness & Mental Health as a College Student
How prioritizing physical health and fitness significantly impacted my mental health.
Throughout my 3.5 years of college so far, my health and fitness journey has been quite a rollercoaster, to say the least. I can recall the only 2 times I ever worked out during my freshman year; both of which consisted of running up and down the stairs of my dorm building until I could barely breathe and then calling that a workout. I guess you could count the seemingly endless miles that I walked every day to and from classes. Either way, the thought of going to the campus fitness center surrounded by 100 people my own age was intimidating enough that I never even considered the idea. Ironically enough, my mental health was a direct reflection of my health and fitness (or lack thereof).
The pandemic hit in the Spring of my freshman year. Quarantine looked very different for people. Some of us blossomed, picked up new hobbies, learned new skills, and prioritized health and fitness. Others of us…not so much. I definitely fell into the latter group. My mental and physical health were both at an all-time low. I consider myself a very outgoing and sociable person, so the isolation was tough.
Thankfully, we were able to return to campus in the Fall of my sophomore year. My new apartment had a gym, so I figured I’d give it a try. That seemed way less intimidating than the campus fitness center. I had no clue what I was doing, but I was facing my gym anxiety for the first time in over a year and that was enough to make me feel proud of it.
As many of us would do, I started looking to TikTok for guidance. I found creators who made content for beginners and started to incorporate their workouts into my own. Although it takes weeks or even months to see physical results, the immediate improvements I saw in my mental health were enough to keep me going. I was suddenly interested in cooking for myself, fixing my sleep schedule, learning more workouts, and just taking better care of myself.
I’ve always struggled with consistency, and my fitness journey has definitely reflected that. Throughout my sophomore and junior year, I had several health and fitness “phases”. But something else I’ve struggled with the past several years is seasonal depression. It’s crazy how much the seasons can impact a person! For a few months each winter, I’ve struggled with having the energy to go to class, work out, cook for myself, or even hang out with friends (which is very unlike me).
I tried medication and it just wasn’t for me. It was only a few months of the year and I didn’t want to mess with my brain chemistry so I figured I’d just “tough it out”...which actually consisted of zero “toughness”. I’d just let myself wallow for a while. I had a terrible sleep schedule, was barely eating 1,000 calories a day, skipping classes, and laying in bed most of the day. I accepted that this was just part of life; it always gets better by Spring. Sure, I knew if I actually took care of myself, I’d probably feel much better…but that’s the whole problem: I didn’t have the energy or desire to take care of myself. It probably doesn’t make much sense to people who’ve never struggled with mental health issues, but it’s a crazy thing!
As my senior year approached, I decided I’d try to be proactive. I knew I didn’t want to spend this winter like I did in past years. Instead of standing there waiting for it to hit me, I’d start running from it. You always hear how much diet and exercise impact mental health. I had my doubts because that advice probably came from someone who doesn’t know how difficult it is to exercise and take care of yourself in such a state. But I figured I’d give it a try anyway. Couldn’t hurt, right?
One of my roommates is into fitness and she’s also a great cook, so I started learning from her. I started cooking more balanced meals and becoming more consistent in the gym. Also, shout out to TikTok again...you can really learn a lot from people on that app! I had more structured workouts, more meal ideas, and more motivation to keep going.
As we near the end of January, which is usually the worst month of my life, I can honestly say I am in the best place, mentally, that I’ve been in a while. I signed up for a gym membership, I eat 90% of my meals at home, I take care of myself, and I’ve even started reading (which is something no professor could get me to do). Not only did I not experience seasonal depression this year, but I am better than ever!
Although a big motivation to work out is to see physical changes, I cannot say enough about the mental changes I’ve noticed. It doesn’t matter if it's strength training, a long walk, or anything in between, doing something for your body instills a sense of self-worth. It’s a reminder to yourself that you are worthy of being taken care of.
There are also many scientifically-proven benefits of exercise on mental health.
Any kind of exercise releases endorphins in your brain. Quick neuroscience lesson on endorphins: they’re the happy hormone! They are associated with feelings of pleasure, happiness, and love. If you’ve ever heard of the euphoric “runner’s high”, that is a product of endorphins!
Exercise also reduces inflammation in the entire body and improves neural
growth in your brain, both of which improve mental well-being.
And if that isn’t enough to convince you, exercise also promotes higher self-esteem, better sleep, a sharper focus, and more energy throughout the day.
That list is pretty comprehensive of all of the areas I struggled in during previous
winters. I guess I should apologize for discrediting whoever said exercise and diet have a significant impact on mental health. I used to roll my eyes at that advice, but as someone who’s experienced the immense impact these things had, I cannot promote it enough.
What motivates you to prioritize health and fitness? I’d love to hear where you’re at in your journey. I’d also be happy to dive more into any of the sub-topics discussed in this blog, such as meal ideas, workout structures, mental health, self-care, or even life as a college student!
About the Content Creator:
Briaunna is a senior at Indiana University, studying Media Advertising and Psychology. She works as an intern with a digital marketing agency, a server at an Italian restaurant, an Uber driver, and a freelance writer with Urban Rhino! Needless to say, she is adventurous when it comes to branching out and trying new things. In her free time, Briaunna enjoys fitness, cooking, learning sign language, reading, traveling, beauty & skincare, and trying her hand at new hobbies.
