Freshen up your health

Freshers’ is a time of new experiences, from living independently to attending lectures and seminars. For some people, these new experiences can also include drinking every night for two weeks, trying drugs, or engaging in new sexual experiences.

This type of behaviour occurs for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s easy to reinvent yourself at uni, so if you were the ‘sweet and innocent’ one at school you might want to construct a new, rebellious identity. Alternatively, after a few drinks, you might feel curious and inclined to try new things. Unfortunately, you might also feel under pressure from your hall mates to join in with the drinking and drugs that they are doing, in order to make a good first impression.

However, whilst you want to make the most of Freshers’, suffering from a hangover or a comedown from drugs will leave you feeling nauseous, sluggish and depressed, whilst the aftermath of unprotected sex is anxiety over a potential STI or pregnancy: not exactly what you want to have to deal with in your first few weeks at Warwick!

On the other hand, being in good health will leave you feeling fresh, energetic and confident, which in turn has a positive social and academic impact (after all, you need energy to get up for those 9am lectures). To make sure your Freshers’ experience is unforgettable for all the right reasons, look after your body and mind by following this advice from the Boar’s resident health guru.

Alcohol:

Drinking is undoubtedly a big part of Freshers’, as students let their hair down and bond with each other over wild drinking games. However, whilst on the lash you should remember that the recommended daily alcohol intake is 3-4 units for men and 2-3 units for women which equates roughly to about one pint (3 units). Drinking more than 8 units is known as bingeing, and is very harmful for your body, increasing the likelihood of several cancers, heart disease, liver problems and reduced fertility. If you are determined to get drunk, drink plenty of water in between drinks to keep rehydrated and avoid alcohol for 48 hours after the drinking session.

Exercise:

Late nights and lie-ins will leave you feeling sluggish, so a great way to boost your mood and invigorate your body is to take part in some exercise. Going for a jog is fantastic as it’s free and you can get out in the fresh air. If you’re worried about bumping into people on campus in your sweaty state, try jogging down Gibbet Hill Road past campus. The gym is also relatively cheap at £110 per year.
If you find it hard to motivate yourself to exercise alone, Warwick Sport offer an incredible 73 sports clubs, ranging from kung-fu to cheerleading, so there really is something for everyone. Visit the Sports Fair on Tuesday 2nd October to find out more and join the sport of your choice.

Drugs:

Taking drugs can result in a multitude of health problems, including panic attacks, paranoia, anxiety, depression, nausea and sexual dysfunction, to name but a few. As well as these unpleasant side effects, they are also life-threatening and illegal. If drugs are discovered on you, you could also face being thrown out of campus accommodation or even being arrested. Not a great way to make that all-important good first impression.
Essentially, you should stay away from drugs on all costs. However, if you are worried about having a drug problem, visit your GP at the Health Centre, or visit websites such as talktofrank.com.

Nutrition:

Yes, the temptation of living off SuperNoodles/ready meals may be hard to resist, but if you want to look and feel great, eating a balanced diet is key. Base your meals on starchy foods like pasta and rice and add protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and lentils as well as plenty of vegetables.
Additionally, don’t forget to consume some milk and dairy foods (cereal for breakfast or yoghurt as a pudding are good ideas) and make sure you avoid too much fat, salt and sugar, found particularly in junk food. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
For healthy recipe ideas, try nhs.uk/Livewell/healthy-recipes.

Mental health:

Leaving home and beginning university can be very stressful and anxiety-provoking, and it’s likely that you might feel slightly uneasy during this time. Try talking to a friend and sharing your feelings so you don’t bottle things up and feel more alone. They will probably have experienced similar feelings and will be able to reassure you.
If, however, you feel as though things are getting too much, you can arrange an appointment with the university counsellor by emailing counselling@warwick.ac.uk or even talk things through anonymously with a student at Nightline (02476 417 668).

Hygiene:

This one is a given for most people, hopefully. Showering daily keeps you feeling fresh, and is very important after sweaty nights in the Copper Rooms. Girls, remember to take off your makeup before bed (face wipes are practical, but cleansing is even better) unless you want blocked pores and a nasty arrival of spots. Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is also a good idea to remove any bacteria that you may have picked up around halls, and may help you prevent catching fresher’s flu.