While August marks the start of the back-to-school season, it is also National Wellness Month! This is celebrated every year to encourage healthy habits, mindful nutrition, and stress management. Whether you’re new to campus or returning for another semester, small daily choices can make a big difference in how you feel throughout the school year.
The Power of Movement 
Any type of movement, including walking (especially to class), running, swimming, dancing, or pickleball, has a positive impact on health. Regular physical exercise helps to lower the risk of metabolic disorders. Not only does exercise improve your oxygen levels and strengthen your bones, but it also aids blood circulation throughout the body. The constant movement of blood flow helps to reduce blood pressure and lower LDL cholesterol levels. Exercise also significantly improves insulin resistance, helping regulate blood sugar levels and decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, physical activity plays a major role in your mental health. Individuals who exercise daily experience a better mood, higher self-esteem, and a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms. While college can be a stressful time with exams and assignments, incorporating exercise can help manage stress responses.
Physical activity has many wonderful benefits and does not have to take up much of your time. The CDC recommends that adults participate in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, which breaks down to 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The UGA Ramsey Center is a great place to reach this goal with your favorite activity.
A Smarter Lunch Break
Along with exercise and overall wellness, nutrition plays an important role in supporting overall energy. Being mindful when you eat and choose nutrient-dense foods will not only help your cognitive function but also provide more fuel for your day.
Try building a plate that contains all the different food groups, including vegetables, a lean protein source, a whole grain (brown rice, wheat bread, quinoa, etc.), a piece of fruit, and a dairy source (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.).
Before heading to the dining commons, check out UGA’s Build Your Plate (link to BYP here) to see what is being served that day. Each dining commons serves vegetables, lean and plant-based proteins, fresh fruit, whole grains, and a variety of dairy.
References
CDC. (2023, December 20). Physical activity for adults: An overview. Physical Activity Basics; CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/adults.html
Hejazi, K., Iraj, Z. A., Saeidi, A., Hackney, A. C., Laziri, F., Suzuki, K., Laher, I., & Hassane, Z. (2025). Differential effects of exercise training protocols on blood pressures and lipid profiles in older adults patients with hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 131, 105737. 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105737
Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Cureus, 15(1), e33475. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33475
Nelson J. B. (2017). Mindful Eating: The Art of Presence While You Eat. Diabetes spectrum : a publication of the American Diabetes Association, 30(3), 171–174. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds17-0015
Ruegsegger, G. N., & Booth, F. W. (2018). Health Benefits of Exercise. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 8(7), a029694. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a029694
Wang, Y., & Ashokan, K. (2021). Physical Exercise: An Overview of Benefits From Psychological Level to Genetics and Beyond. Frontiers in physiology, 12, 731858. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.731858