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June 17, 2008
Class of 2012 gets tips on exercise and nutrition
Healthy YOU at Bryant U initiative includes the well-being of Bryant’s newest students.
As part of the 2008 Orientation program, the Class of 2012 is getting a crash course in nutrition, exercise, and good sleep habits through the Healthy YOU at Bryant U campaign.
Jennifer DiPrete, Bryant’s health and wellness coordinator, is leading a session at each of the four Orientation sessions over the next two weeks. She offers these tips for students:
Sleep
Students should get eight hours of sleep each night to function properly. “Sleep plays a vital role in performance, health, and overall quality of life,” says DiPrete.
Power naps of about 20 to 30 minutes can be useful in improving mood or alertness, but naps of longer durations can disrupt normal sleep patterns.
Relationships
It is common for relationships with friends from home to evolve over the years. Some will get stronger, others will become more distant, and students will form new relationships with many of their classmates.
DiPrete encourages students to take some time to think about the qualities they will look for in their friends. Some of the characteristics could be respect, honesty, or trust.
“Students should examine the kind of people they want to have in their lives,” says DiPrete. “This will help you create healthy relationships with those around you.”
Nutrition
It can be overwhelming for students to have so many food options available to them on a daily basis, says DiPrete. Students should focus on the serving sizes of the foods they are eating and balance meals with proper amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Bryant unveiled the Healthy YOU at Bryant U campaign to provide students with information on healthy lifestyle choices.
Stress
In a new environment, students will undoubtedly encounter some level of stress or anxiety. “Don’t allow stress to get to the point where you can’t function,” says DiPrete. She recommends the three R’s to deal with stress: recognize, routine, and relax.
First, students must identify what is causing their anxiety. When they uncover the underlying reasons for their stress, they will be able to adapt their lifestyles to alleviate anxiety.
By developing a routine that includes the proper amount of sleep and sufficient time to complete school projects, students can minimize the effects of stress. It is also important to set aside time to relax and recharge.
Time Management
Students will learn to prepare, organize, and prioritize their tasks as part of the first-year Foundations for Learning course. Each day, they should dedicate eight hours to sleep, eight hours to schoolwork, and eight hours to leisure time that includes student organizations, internships, or sports.
Physical Activity
While the demands of being a student could force regular exercise further from your mind, it is important to maintain a regular workout schedule. Research shows that people who exercise regularly perform better. Students should aim for 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five days a week.
“When you are physically active, you are not as stressed,” says DiPrete.
Alcohol Wise
All incoming first-year students are required to take an online alcohol education course that will teach them about the negative effects of alcohol on their bodies. They have all summer to complete the one-hour course and will not be able to pick up their laptops in September unless they finish the course.
To learn more visit, Healthy YOU at Bryant U.
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