By Emmanuel Adebiyi
A semester can be so unpredictable. The first week you are living fine and enjoying being back to school and meeting your friends again; the next week you are struggling with keeping up with lectures, and with the shortened calendar, in no time you're writing tests.
If you had the kind of semester as I did last session, you might be planning to write four tests in a day. Things can happen fast and seem to go out of control. However, viz - a - viz these things, the last problem you want to have in school is with your health. You don’t want to spend a day in Jaja, not to mention missing tests because you fell ill.
Trust me, the rules of surviving at the University of Ibadan can be summarised into one: “In all you do, try to stay healthy to battle whatever is thrown at you." While some people have fundamental health issues that are beyond their control, most of the issues they encounter can be prevented by simply living a healthy lifestyle in school.
SLEEP IS NOT THE ENEMY
If you are a freshman, you might not be familiar with this, but you would always hear terms like “sleep is the enemy” from students used to describe the battle with sleep during their Till Day Breaks(TDBs). To stay healthy in school, rest as you can. Sleep, and sleep well. The brain functions well if you’ve gotten good sleep, and it is important for physical and mental health restoration. Have a bedtime routine to signal to your brain that it's time to wind down, and create a conducive environment to sleep in.
JUNK FOOD IS THE HIDEOUS ENEMY
Healthy eating is another important aspect of campus life. With tight schedules amidst lectures and activities and limited cooking facilities in some cases, it is easy to rely on junk food and processed snacks. However, these options can lead to fatigue and a decreased immune system. Remember, the last thing you want in school is to fall sick. Instead, try healthier dining options, if at all you can’t cook. Buy good food from the cafeteria and stay hydrated throughout the day; carrying a bottle of water around won’t hurt.Alright, let’s stop here for now. Do this, and thank me later.
