Don't put health on the backburner

Recently at work, I fainted for the first time ever. I didn't know the symptoms; I didn't know it was coming. Next thing I knew, I woke up laying on the ground with my scared coworkers yelling my name. I had blacked out and fallen to the ground. As they came to help me, I asked what happened and before I knew it, an ambulance was there to take care of me.

I'm OK now, but this scare really had me thinking about my health. I realized that my busy schedule with work, school and life itself got in the way of me prioritizing my health. According to emedicinehealth.com, the causes of fainting include stress, fatigue, and dehydration.

I quickly realized that those factors are all too common around college campuses. I wasn't eating what I should, resting as much as I needed to or taking time out to make sure I was OK. It all caught up with me, and I realized that taking care of my own body really needed to be something I thought about more.

After my scare, I started making sure I packed healthy snacks and lunches for the school day to give me energy for my classes. I have fun carrying around my pink lunch box every day at school. I fill it with yogurt, fruits, granola bars and other healthy foods. I've also made sure I'm staying hydrated and getting enough sleep, which is a goal I'm more than happy to work for.

After reconsidering my own health habits, I also began to worry for my family, friends and fellow students who also lead demanding lives. I've heard friends in class talk about how they're sick, tired and stressed. I don't want anything bad to happen to others, especially if it can be prevented.

I want to share with you some tips on how to stay healthy during college so you can do and be your best. A website that I follow for inspiration on how to stay fit during college is Undressedskeleton.tumblr.com. It's a blog created by another college student just like us, Taralynn McNitt, who provides truly helpful tips for young adults. Her tips under the section "Surviving School" include:

-       Bring a lunch to school or work

-       Make smart choices for food you eat while studying

-       Learn about the school's food choices

-       Educate yourself about healthy eating habits

-       Practice portion control and moderation

-       Schedule an appointment with the school dietician

-       Look at the cafeteria menu and choose a healthy option before going there

-       Eat more vegetables, low-fat dairy, complex carbohydrates and lean sources of protein in each meal

-       Eat less fried foods, desserts, juices, sodas, chips and high-calorie foods

-       Take a fitness class

-       Get enough sleep

-       Eat breakfast

Although these tips may seem obvious, they're a helpful reminder of the things we should be doing all the time to take care of ourselves. I highly recommend visiting Taralynn's blog for more help and information on how to stay healthy during college. Your parents may not be here watching what you eat or how much sleep you get, but you have a schoolmate who does care — me. I hope you all realize how important and valuable your health is before you get a wake-up call like I did. College is an exciting, busy time. Take care of yourself while you're enjoying it.

Colleen Young can be reached by email at young.record@live.com.