Sower interviewed Goddard Health Services Representative Maggie Pool about how to stay healthy in college.

Q: How can students prevent health problems?

A: I think the main thing is to look at it as a whole general level of wellness and take care of yourself and your body. I wish I could say there is an easy way to do it but there are small steps that you can take . . . Try to get enough sleep at night . . . At least get six hours. Everyone is different and you may need more individual hours. What one person can do on six, another person can do on eight. That’s something you have to find out on your own. [And] practice preventive measures. You know, such as washing your hands; try to avoid getting ill in the first place. Also fuel your body so you have a strong immune system — eat well and exercise.

Q: What are some small changes students can make to be healthier?

A: Find a healthy outlet. It can be through running or dancing. It could be through practicing meditative techniques. It can be through talking to somebody. That person doesn’t even have to be a licensed professional. We run into people who feel like they don’t have anybody to talk to, and that can be a great method of reducing stress is

just talking to someone. You

can think about other prevention such as managing your time. Practicing good time-management skills can really reduce your stress overall.

The “freshmen 15” is a concern for many students. How do students not gain the weight?

One of the reasons, if students do gain weight, is because they’re not at home anymore. They’re on their own eating, and they’re not eating at home, but they’re eating out. It’s a lot harder to make healthy choices when eating out. Also students might find that in high school they were very active. When they come to school they’re no longer playing sports or extracurricular activities, but they’re still eating the same, if not more, calories . . . You need to think about where you’re going to eat and think about what activity you’re going to get for the day.

Q: Sometimes it’s easier to go out to eat and worry about the calories later. Is there a way to change the habit of “I’ll work it off later?”

A: What I find is great is that every restaurant establishment, even on this campus, usually has a healthier option. Restaurants are even promoting those as, “Hey, these are a healthy option.” The other good thing is, forgive yourself if you have something. It’s OK. Everyone needs a treat, but only in moderation. It’s all about plan, plan and planning . . . If you think ahead of time, like ‘In the morning I’m going to have some oatmeal,’ you’re more likely to do it because you’ve thought about it. You pre-planned it, so think about what you’re going to do for lunch ahead of time instead of thinking about it right then.