So I’ve been trying to implement some changes and update my habits recently. Usually this “hell week” is both hell for students mentally and physically. Staying up late nights at the library, cramming in 10 weeks (x4 classes) worth of information, getting little rest, getting fast food meals, and stocking up on junk food. And the reason we tolerate these habits as human beings is that the toll it takes on our bodies probably won’t even be visible until years, maybe a decade later. From an economic standpoint, our opportunity cost doesn’t outweigh our benefit as of the moment and that is why we take those actions - actions to sacrifice sleep time for study time, mealtime for study time, and what have you. Let’s face it, at our age we feel like we are invincible in college. We don’t see the harm in eating fast food meals 2x a day. And, even if we do, we don’t feel like it “costs” us anything health-wise. The benefit is cheap and quick food so that we can maximize our study time. The opportunity cost is the alternative to eating fast food, which could be cooking our own meal or buying something healthier. And, without blame, college students feel that the benefit outweigh the costs. So, to McDonald’s we go.

So what have I tried to do about it? This quarter I’ve been trying to time manage a lot better in efforts to become healthier. I’ve always been meaning to eat healthier - just like how I mean to fit in those pants from last year again. But, damn if I didn’t see how much faster, cheaper, and overall easier it is to get a McDonald’s meal for $4 bucks than a Whole Foods sandwich for $8. It’s my loss if I pass up saving the time and money. Right? I mean, I would opt for the healthy sandwich if I had 20+ minutes to kill and if I had the money to spend. Ironically, the two things college students are limited in: time and money.

It’s a slow climb, but I’m starting to confidently feel like I’m on my way to a healthier lifestyle. Sure it could’ve started because of my parents’ nagging, the people around me, aging family & friends, but it all ultimately starts with ourselves. So, what are you doing about your life? Are you living it with unbalanced perspective and instant benefits or can you start to realize that your actions now subtly but significantly shape the path that you’ll be on in the future?

Food for thought during finals week. Good luck everyone! I can’t wait for Christmas :)