Exercise

Cold weather, rain, busy schedules, we can easily talk ourselves out of doing exercise, especially when we're feeling tired. The minimum weekly exercise requirements can appear difficult to reach or maintain on a regular basis. Pairing short bursts of exercise with activities we already do can really help. For example, walking up stairs instead of taking the lift or planning exercise as part of the journey home.

Dealing with pre-existing injuries or post-exercise recovery can be demotivating. If you are trying to get back into exercise, it is useful to consult a fitness trainer or physical therapist to ensure that you do not injure yourself or aggravate pre-existing injuries. Once you get going, manage post-exercise recovery with cool down routines. Set specific rewards when you achieve a milestone (for example reaching certain weight, mastering particular skill or noticing improvement in your mental/physical fitness).

When we think of exercise, we often think of treadmills, weights and sweaty gym towels. Although this is the kind of exercise that lots of people enjoy, it's not the only way to move your body. Walking is a very effective means of supporting your health and wellbeing. It needs no special equipment, very little planning and can really help boost concentration, creativity and focus. There are lots of beautiful spots around each campus to explore that are easy to fit into your study breaks.

You can also use exercise/movement tracking apps to find out if you are meeting minimum requirements. If you are struggling, try to set yourself weekly goals. Small increases over time reinforces the healthy routine and leads to overall success.

Try to look for safe and enjoyable spaces where you can spend at least 20 to 30 minutes per day. It can be as simple as walking to the bus stop or going to get a coffee. Adelaide is a pedestrian and cycling-friendly city with lots of routes to explore. If restricted to your home environment for any reason, using household objects for resistance training and making use of your garden could be great alternatives.

Even if you are a long way from uni or work, you can consider getting off public transport one stop early, or parking a little further away so you can get that 10-15 min walk in, or utilise that lunch break or gap between lectures and do a short walk. During times when this might not be an option, a good alternative is to have a walk in your local neighbourhood. It all adds up, plus you get to notice your environment, observe the seasons and boost your vitamin D levels.