When you start the maddest three years of your life, it’s unlikely that an exercise routine will be at the forefront of your mind. But if you want to avoid the dreaded “Fresher’s 14” (or at least have a way to work it off after), you should probably think about creating one.
Although it can seem like a superfluous task, fitting in time to exercise can actually be much easier than it first seems, and you’ll end up thanking yourself when you feel more awake and look more confident.
Deciding where to go
The first thing you should do is investigate your university’s gym. They’ll usually be offering a hefty discount and you can combine it with sports societies memberships, which is great for any student. But remember that this will probably be the most popular gym in the area. If you fancy a quieter gym experience, look around others in your area. They can’t guarantee a great discount, but most will have some form of deal. Of course, you can ditch the gym and have your own running routine. Build it around what you want to do, and don’t waste money on needless memberships if you won’t use them.
Building a routine
At first the thought of regular exercise can be daunting, especially if you’re only starting at university. When I first started, I could only manage ten minutes in the treadmill, so don’t worry if you aren’t matching everyone around you. I would recommend going solo to begin with, as it gives you a better chance to assess your capabilities and what you need to work on. Having company is great for some people, but if you go with someone who’s been running for 15 years, you’re only going to end up feeling outclassed.
Keeping it going
The key to maintaining it is making it fun – I always like to feel like I’m doing something more exciting than simply using a treadmill, so I tend to listen to epica music when I’m running – turns out, nothing gets me more pumped than feeling like I’m about to fight anime villains! At the end of the day, I only went when I wanted to, so keeping it regular can be a struggle. But if you do, it’s worth it in the long run, and the gym can end up complementing a university experience just as well as a full social roster.
What is your exercise routine at university? Share it below!
Photo: m01229 / Flickr
Warwick Editor for Career Camels and Deputy Comment Editor for The Boar.
Leave a Reply