{"id":279360,"date":"2026-05-21T11:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/279360\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:37:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:37:07","slug":"opinion-being-health-conscious-can-help-you-in-all-aspects-of-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/279360\/","title":{"rendered":"OPINION: Being health-conscious can help you in all aspects of your life"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>Prioritizing your health during the summer is important because it helps enhance every other part of your life. ORACLE PHOTO\/DYLAN SABOL<\/p>\n

Self-care, especially during college years, is incredibly important.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Generation Z is the most physically active and health-focused generation since baby boomers, according to ABC Fitness<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is amazing to see because, in my opinion, staying healthy is the most important thing you can do to help yourself.<\/p>\n

And with summer break starting up, making time for fitness is a great way to spend your free time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At USF, this increase in activity may look like taking jogs around campus or going to The FIT<\/a> or the Recreation and Wellness Center<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t be discouraged if you\u2019re off campus \u2014 jogging around your neighborhood, investing in a gym membership or just working out in your room are all great options.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now that I\u2019m home for the summer, I\u2019ve gotten a membership at a Planet Fitness close to my home, and have felt much better since I\u2019ve started.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taking that first step can be the hardest part of developing a gym routine \u2014 but getting into it is the best thing that you could do for yourself.<\/p>\n

Working out is choosing to invest in yourself, improve your current circumstances and build a foundation that will support you for the rest of your life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Related: OPINION: USF\u2019s Recreation and Wellness Center needs more machines<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Consistent physical activity has a plethora of benefits for both physical and mental health, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some short-term benefits you\u2019ll find are improved cognition, reduced anxiety and reduced risk of depression, while long-term benefits include a reduced risk of heart problems, infectious diseases and even some cancers, according to the CDC<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Working out also strengthens your bones and muscles, which increases your chances of living not only a longer, but a healthier life, according to the CDC<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Angelo Cavalleri, a freshman exercise science and kinesiology major, said he makes working out a \u201cnon-negotiable\u201d during exam season, as it helps clear and sharpen his mind for studying.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helped me to be able to complete 2 exams right before my USF-Powerlifting competition,\u201d Cavalleri said. \u201cAnd still win my age group, even when balancing exams with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cavalleri\u2019s anecdote is a living example of how physical activity enhances performance across all aspects of your life.<\/p>\n

Staying active is a great goal for the summer when you have more free time, and it benefits you during the regular school year once you stay consistent.<\/p>\n

However, physical activity is just one piece of the puzzle of staying healthy as a college student.<\/p>\n

Diet is also important when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle and developing better habits. What you put in your body dictates how well it runs, after all.<\/p>\n

A healthy diet consists of a balance of vegetables, fruits, proteins and grains, according to Harvard\u2019s School of Public Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you live on campus this summer, USF\u2019s dining halls offer all of these food options, with the Hub and the Juniper Dining Hall providing students with an accessible path to a healthy, balanced diet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I used to go to the Hub for a burger or other high-protein meal to help my muscles grow after working out on campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At home, I make balanced and high-nutrition meals with ingredients I have, such as chicken and rice.<\/p>\n

Related: OPINION: USF students are hungry for new dining options at Pinnacle Hall<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Outside of activity and diet, another important aspect of your health is having a proper sleep schedule.<\/p>\n

Cavalleri said having a consistent sleep schedule is one of the most important things you can have as a student, as it helps with productivity alongside physical and mental recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis can make it easier to stay disciplined in academics, and still feel like you have enough energy to consistently exercise,\u201d Cavalleri said.<\/p>\n

I know I\u2019m not the only one with an inconsistent sleep schedule during the school year, so the summer is the perfect time to get it back on track.\u00a0<\/p>\n

All in all, there are plenty of ways for you to learn more about your health and start developing new habits to stay healthy as a student this summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It only takes one step to start seeing changes so if you find yourself not doing enough of these things, do yourself a favor and get started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Prioritizing your health during the summer is important because it helps enhance every other part of your life.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":279361,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-279360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279360"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279360\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}