Your health must be the top priority when you are studying abroad. When I was pursuing my higher studies in the USA, homesickness was my primary companion in the initial days. However, other health issues like fever, cold, etc. were there to annoy me.
According to statistics, an international student is highly vulnerable because of the new place they are living in and are prone to various mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, etc. (Taylor & Francis Online).
Since I have personally gone through these stages and know how difficult it can be, I am hereby sharing some health tips that you can follow to stay fit and happy while pursuing your studies abroad.
Keep reading.
When applying for an international student visa, most countries demand you to go for an insurance plan that can be claimed in a situation of need. Most developed countries like the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, etc. mandate this rule.
However, you must research and rely on the right insurance plan that can fulfill the need for funds, and also not cost too much on your pockets. You can go for a YouTube video or several web resources to find the right plan for you.
Working out is a primary fuel that your health needs. According to research, Japan has one of the healthiest populations in the world, as they rely heavily on physical activity and sports for weight loss and a healthy physique.
When you workout, you’re not only making your body sustain heat and ensure mobility, but it also leaves a positive effect on your mental health. It may not feel like it but exercising regularly helps in improving confidence, sleep, and releasing feel-good hormones.
As mentioned earlier, homesickness is a great barrier that stays strong in front of your productivity when you are far away from your home. To overcome this issue, socializing is the key. Try going for a recreational activity whenever you’re free.
You can even try socializing in community halls or parks when you are going for your workout session. These outdoor activities and spending time with people can significantly help you with your loneliness.
Junk food when not in your home is a big NO. Since you are away from your home, there will be no one to take care of you if you fall sick. Also, you never know what could happen if you eat out since you do not know about the restaurants around the place.
The best thing to do here is to add nutrition-rich, high-value food to your diet, and try to cook every item by yourself. If you still want or have to go out to eat, you can limit that to once or twice a month.
Consuming excessive sugar is the best way you can give yourself a long-term illness. While having sugar in your meals may end your craving, it will only ruin your health in the long run.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2021, diabetes was the direct cause of 6.7 million deaths globally.
Sugar or diabetes is a much more complicated disease than you might think. When diagnosed with this, patients need to cut down on their cravings, calorie intake, and whatnot. Also, the side effects that come along are just menacing.
Even if you follow all these tips religiously, the difficulties and bad days are unavoidable. Hence, self-relief techniques come in handy in these situations.
Whenever you are feeling anxious or emotionally down, you can follow these techniques:
These practices can help you in your tough times.
The graph above shows how many hours of sleep you must get at different stages of your life. Since you are studying abroad, you are either an adult or going to be one in a year or two. Hence, it is strongly recommended for you to have at least 8–10 hours of sleep.
Back in the day when I was pursuing my higher education abroad, I made some horrible mistakes and bad things to my health. Although I went for an International student health cover, it was not a well-researched decision, which I regretted later.
Hence, I listed some essential tips regarding your health so that you can stay fit while you are not home. Note that, these tips are not just to read, but you have to implement them in real life as well. Otherwise, things can get really bad.
