By Aine Fogarty
Welcome back everyone. It’s a new week and a new issue of SIN. We are nearly into the middle of March and fully back in the swing of things. Routines are back in order and assignments are slowly trickling in again. This would’ve been around the time RAG week would be but sadly we have missed out. I haven’t been up to much since I last wrote my diary, but I have begun a sort of lifestyle change I’d like to tell you all about.
I’ve never been one to stick with an exercise regime or a health plan, but I think I’ve come up with something I can do and keep up with while keeping on top of my workload. Since it’s looking like we’ll be stuck with the five kilometre travel restriction for the foreseeable future it’s the perfect time to get in some walking. I have a forest close to my house that I used to love to walk through and if I have a free hour in my day before another lecture I try to go for a quick walk even if it’s just fifteen minutes. I put in my headphones and shuffle my playlist or pick a podcast and use the time to think and destress from the work I was doing beforehand. This is an easy way to get in some exercise that can be fun and not have you dead tired afterwards.
I’ve always struggled with my diet and the types of food I eat. I have a deep love for white bread and any form of sugar that making the change to eating healthier is hard for me. I’ve tried a million different times to change up what I eat but have always ended up giving up. I think I’ve figured out my problem. I need to choose healthy foods I actually enjoy and not force myself to eat things I’m not really a fan of. I always associated the word ‘healthy’ with boring salads and all my carbs being brown, but I can still eat well while enjoying what I’m eating. I’ve always had fun cooking and trying out new recipes so incorporating new healthier foods into my meals has been a fun new addition into my days. This lockdown is a disappointing and frustrating time, but it can also give you the opportunity to get walking and get cooking.
Reading back through this, I realise that I sound like one of those positive lifestyle motivators and I am cringing on the inside. I am still your typical stressed out college student but now I get dressed for half an hour of my day to get some fresh air (straight back into my pjs after) and spend a bit more time on my meals. I hope you enjoyed this diary entry and I will update you all again soon.
