How to be environmentally friendly and stay healthy whilst at university

16 November 2021

In this blog, Vidhi shares her top tips on how you can be environmentally friendly on campus as well as sharing her advice on how to take care of your physical and mental health as a student.

In this blog I want to share with you my environmental and health top tips, now this is just my opinion, but it is what works well for me, so why not give them a go!

Too Good to Go

This is an amazing initiative and a great application to download! Restaurants and grocery stores sign up for the application, offering discounts on their unsold items and supporting the reduction of food wastage. Some of the restaurants on and around campus even offer discounts for breakfast and lunch. Also, several restaurants in Leamington Spa like Yo Sushi also take part, and you can get sushi which would normally cost £15 reduced to £4, which is a great bargain. There is also no difference in the quality of the food. So, rather than getting a takeaway why not try this instead.

Reusable bags

Grocery shopping is a weekly routine for many students but many a time we forget to take a bag or choose to purchase a plastic bag at the local grocery store instead. In order to be more sustainable, switch to a reusable tote bag and keep it on you at all times. It will save you a couple of pennies every time you go shopping and you can fit more items into your bag without the worry or risk of a plastic bag ripping, and most importantly it is eco-friendly! It is very common to get reusable tote bags during the start of your first year so be sure to keep them safe and on you at all times.

Reusable cups

If you are a hot drink fanatic, then this is a great one for you! If you purchase a hot drink on campus at any of the university outlets, then please choose the free reusable Warwick cup, which you can drink from and then dispose of at the Warwick drop boxes around campus. If you prefer to have your own cup or are used to making your own hot drinks, then a good investment would be to buy a reusable cup. This is not only a more environmentally friendly option but it is also a cheaper option as you can prepare your cup of coffee at home and enjoy it on your journey to campus.

Buying clothes

Everyone loves buying new clothes, but before you indulge on a new purchase make sure you stop and think of the environment. The university has regular second-hand vintage clothing stands set up in the SU building during term time, and they provide the perfect way to spice up your wardrobe collection without harming the environment. You can also give your clothes to charity if they’re in a good condition rather than throwing them away in the bin.

Apart from this, whilst you are studying at university it is also important to stay healthy and remain active which can sometimes be difficult to do when you are focusing on your studies. These are my top tips on what you can do to stay healthy and active:

Meal prep

You can be healthy and save a lot of time by preparing your meals. Many students have a quick breakfast and/or lunch due to rushing back and forth to their lectures and seminars and therefore may resort to grabbing a quick ready to go meal. However, a great way to overcome this is to consider preparing your meals for the week ahead which will save you a lot of time, money and it's better for your health. If weekly meal prep is not the route for you, then I would recommend that you cook a little extra for your evening meal and save a portion to have for your lunch the next day.

Stay fit and active

To stay fit and active I would definitely recommend going to the Warwick Sports & Wellness Hub as they have several fitness classes spread across the week. If you are a beginner, I would recommend starting with the blue classes and working your way up to purple and then red. The fitness classes I have enjoyed the most are boxercise, body combat and circuits. If fitness classes are not ideal for you, then there are many different activities available to you at the hub including a state of the art gym, swimming pool, climbing wall and numerous courts for racquet sports.

Mental health

    Taking care of your mental health is equally important as your physical health. Whilst you are studying at university you will have a busy schedule with assignments, exams, group projects, seminars, society events and much more. Amongst all this, you may lose track of focusing on yourself. I recommend taking out some time for yourself at the end of each day to do something you enjoy such as watching a movie, doing a bit of yoga, cooking something new, or socialising with your friends. Personally, I enjoy going on a walk as it helps me think calmly and destress at the end of a hectic day. Also, I would encourage you to have a healthy sleep schedule and make sure you get at least 7-8 hours sleep per night, as not getting enough sleep can really impact your everyday health. Lastly, if you feel like you are having a tough time and want to speak to someone, then make sure you contact the Warwick Wellbeing Support Services who are on hand to provide you with you lots of help and support. Always remember that you are not alone, and there is always someone available to help.

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