Green Living Tips for Busy (and Broke) College Students
Living a green life on a budget is a stretch for anybody, especially for college students. If you’re in college, you’re probably short on money and time, so buying a bunch of “green” products and spending more time on tasks that could be easily done in a less sustainable manner is tough.
Not to worry! We know green living is important to you, as it is to us. In this article, we’ll provide some green living tips that anyone on a budget can use. Let’s jump right in.
Get a Few House Plants
House plants literally make your life more green. But they do a lot more than just look pretty. House plants can actually improve the quality of your life without taking much work or money to get and care for.
Research has proven three major health benefits of having indoor plants:
1. Indoor plants can remove these pollutants from the air in your home: formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene.
2. They can humidify the air, which has been found to help dry skin and even sore throats.
3. Being around nature like house plants can help you relax and focus.
Small plants are usually very affordable, but you can also get free starter plants from friends and family members. It’s so easy to clip off a stem from a mature plant or propagate new plants from just a few leaves, just make sure you ask for permission before you go snipping up someone’s beloved pothos.
Stop the Junk Food
Did you know that consuming junk food and processed foods is not only bad for your body, it’s also bad for the environment? On that note, it’s also more expensive than planning and prepping your own home cooked meals.
But unhealthy snacks are so easy, accessible, and delicious! It’s really hard to say no to unhealthy foods especially when you’re studying and it’s currently your best option.
Would it be easier to pass on the junk food if you knew eating it could negatively affect your alertness, focus, and memory retention?
If you’re ready to dump the junk food, here are some healthy eating tips for college students:
- Eat mindfully. Try not to snack while studying or binge-watching TV. Make an effort to consciously appreciate your food while you eat it.
- Try superfoods packed with nutrients. Mixed with a smoothie, superfoods can boost your nutrient intake and make a quick and easy meal on the go.
- Consider the long-term implications of your habits. Simple changes like swapping processed foods for whole grain complex carbs can make all the difference.
- Don’t get hangry! The last thing you need during a study sesh is a rumbling stomach. If you have to, set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to take a break and grab a healthy snack.
- Don’t ignore your body’s cues. Caffeine is one constant in a college students life, but keep in mind that too much isn’t good for anybody, and everyone has different tolerance levels. Try and keep it to three cups a day or less if you feel jittery.
- Don’t follow trends that aren’t right for you. There will always be a fad diet trending but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everybody. Listen to your body and try not to stress too much about eating perfectly. Just do what feels healthy to you.
We hope these tips help you kick the junk food habit, but the best way to eat clean is to prepare your meals ahead of time. We’ll cover this next.
Start Meal Prepping
Think you don’t have time for meal prepping? Think again. Making time to prepare your meals once a week leads to healthier eating habits, saving money, and even saving you some time in the long run.
If you’re not much of a cook, but you’re looking to save time in the kitchen while still eating healthy meals, consider a meal delivery service. Think about it: after planning out your meals, grocery shopping, then meal prepping or cooking every day, you’ve spent a lot of time on your diet. A prepared meal kit or a grocery box can save you from having to figure it all out yourself, then shop for it, and then prepare the meal. You could just open a box delivered to your door and transfer meals and ingredients to the fridge.
Prepared meals only cost about $11 each, which can be significantly lower than eating out.This might sound like an expensive option for a college student, but it could save you from wasting food and ingredients that never end up getting used. Plus, if you’re eating fresh meals from home instead of eating out, you’ll save money and get healthier simultaneously.
Being a college student is hard enough, but you care about the environment and your own health so making the effort to live green is rewarding and worth it. We hope these tips have helped you live a greener life while saving time and money. Check out our site for more green and healthy living tips.
If you have any green living tips for students please share them in the comment section!
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