What Wellness Actually Looks Like in College

Wellness in college is not a 6 a.m. alarm, a perfectly balanced plate, or a color-coded planner. Sometimes it’s running five minutes late to class with a coffee in one hand and stress in the other, or skipping the gym for an extra nap more than once a week. 

Social Media Makes Wellness Look Polished

Your days in college are guaranteed to be hectic and unpredictable. You won’t always be able to stick to your perfectly laid out schedule. Watching people that seemingly have everything together on social media can lead you to think you’re failing because you just can’t keep up. But it’s important to remember that social media isn’t always the whole truth. Those people have bad days, too. Wellness doesn’t have to be perfect, so give yourself grace when other things become higher on your list of priorities. 

Reality of Wellness on Campus

Maintaining wellness on campus can be easy if you aren’t expecting too much of yourself. Small acts of fitness like going to the gym for just 10 minutes or taking the stairs instead of the elevator on the way to class can keep you moving even with a busy schedule. A daily workout could mean walking with a friend and telling them everything happening in your life right now. This not only decompresses your body, but also your mind. Wellness on campus is simple with low expectations, making it easier to achieve as college students. 

There’s No “Right” Way to Use the Gym

Sometimes you walk into the gym and see people lifting crazy heavy weights or speeding past you on the track. But there is no standard. You don’t have to go at the same time every day, or record a personal best each week. Sometimes the gym can just be used to relieve stress. Wellness in college should be more focused on how you feel in the gym and less about how you’re performing in the gym. 

Wellness Isn’t Always Consistent

Some weeks you may have more energy than others. Maybe the first week of the semester, you’re motivated and confident that you can create a consistent workout schedule and healthy eating habits. By the fifth week, it’s not so easy anymore. During busy times like midterms and finals, it’s okay to take a break from your wellness journey and focus more on school or other things stressing you out. Don’t make yourself feel bad for taking a step back. 

College is a confusing and ever-changing time. It’s important we remember that wellness during this time isn’t about changing ourselves, but about supporting who we already are. Wellness in college is not the aesthetic, consistent routines you often see online. It’s messy, emotional, and deeply human. And guess what: that’s okay!

Be Well, Auburn.