Keeping Fit on the Cheap

  As students, we feel constantly busy, but we actually spend a lot of time sitting on our backsides. For the most part, it is relatively unavoidable but just getting up and using your body is so beneficial. Not only does it help to clear your head after a night of heavy drinking, it improves focus, helps symptoms of stress and anxiety, prevents back and neck pain, improves the quality of your sleep and keeps you strong and healthy, even amidst all of the takeaways and nights out. 

There is a lot of conflicting information about the 'right way' to exercise. Everybody is an expert and everybody has an opinion. It can be confusing and expensive and, when you're drowning under assignments and down to the last little dregs of your student loan, confusing and expensive is the last thing you need. So, I've done the dirty work for you and compiled a few cheap and free resources to help you just move. Whether you're an exercise fanatic or somebody who couldn't think of anything worse, there is something for you.

PARKRUN: 

Admittedly my presence at Parkrun is a rare occurrence. Anybody who can drag themselves out of bed at 8am on a Saturday is a stronger person than I. 99% of the time my alarm clock is met with a string of expletives and a closed fist. However, when I do manage to sleep-walk my way to the start and, even more miraculously, over the finish line, I have a great time.

The concept is simple: A timed 5km run around your local park at 9am every Saturday. There is no expectation or prior experience necessary and it doesn't matter if you can run it in 20 minutes (although I will hate you for it), or walk it in 60. You'll receive a text with your finishing time which serves as a great bench-mark for self-improvement and working towards PB's. It's a lovely atmosphere with a real sense of community and no judgement, a great way to get you up and motivated on a Saturday morning and, the best part? It's totally free. Simply sign up at www.parkrun.org.uk, print off your barcode (to be scanned when you finish), lace up your trainers and go.

JOIN A UNIVERSITY SPORTS TEAM: 

Exercise doesn't have to mean pounding a treadmill or lifting weights in a gym. Joining a sports team can be a fun way to move without feeling like you're exercising, let off some steam, channel any competitive energy and make friends outside of your course. Although a membership fee is usually required, you get a lot for your money and there are options for everybody: from football and rugby, all the way through to cheerleading and taekwondo. Head to your local student union for more information.

USE A FRIEND'S GYM CODE:

The last few years have seen a rise in the budget gym. You know the type? Zero contract, open 24 hours a day and usually unmanned with access code entry. Gym Group, PureGym and EasyGym are a few examples. The memberships are cheap in themselves but, if the pennies won't stretch, I have a solution. The great thing about the lack of staff is that, whilst it's usually a bit of a mess, it's incredibly easy to piggy-back off of somebody else's access code. We all have that one friend who pays for Netflix whilst we all use the password and contribute nothing to the cause. It's exactly the same thing. It's not technically allowed but we're students and desperate times call for desperate measures, right? You didn't hear it from me.

APPS / YOUTUBE VIDEOS: 

We walk around every day with access to some amazing resources just sitting in our pockets. YouTube and the App store are full to the brim with fitness apps and videos. Some are pretty terrible but, if you sift through the rubbish, there are some really useful tools for whatever type of exercise takes your fancy. Feeling a little stiff from all of the sitting and reading? Take a 20 minute break, get YouTube up on the TV or on your phone and do a little bit of Yoga with Adriene. Head out into the garden or a local park and follow a BodyCoach video. Track your running progress with the MapMyRun or Couch to 5K apps or pick a workout of your choosing from the Nike Training Club App, which allows you to choose a workout based on muscle group, type of workout or equipment you have (or don't have) available. 

JUST WALK:

What is this misconception that exercise needs to finish with us on the floor, unable to move, wondering at what point we died and went to hell? Or that it needs to involve some fancy equipment or expensive class membership? If you are one of the many people who hates exercise, just focus on moving your body. It really doesn't have to be fancy but it is incredibly important. Just get outside and go for a brisk walk (you can even use the Borrowmydoggy app to find local dogs in your area to walk if you're an animal lover). Not only will it do wonders for your body, it'll get rid of any cabin fever you may have built up, will improve your focus and can often spark your creativity and help to improve your grade.

My main piece of advice? Don't overthink it. Yes, there are types of exercise that will be more beneficial for you if you have particular goals but something is always better than nothing and keeping active and healthy throughout your studies has endless benefits. There are so many options out there and if you find a style of exercise you enjoy, you'll be far more likely to stick at it. Just focus on movement and don't overthink the rest.