<p>I'm not really sure if this is the place to ask, but I will anyway. How do y'all college students find time to exercise in your busy schedule? I leave for college next year so I hoped to get some advice.</p>
<p>My campus is pretty big, so walking from one class to another is already an exercise in itself, especially when the classes are in buildings 10-15 minutes away from each other. </p>
<p>Either before or after class usually. It’s a commuter school - so most people have their schedules with back to back classes so they finish classes in one single swoop and have free time afterwards, so they hit the gym. </p>
<p>You may find that you have much more free time than you think you will when you get to college. The hours you spend in class will be much less than in high school, and while you’re expected to do more work out of class, you will certainly be able to find a couple of hours a week to exercise, particularly if you are already able to do so as a high school student.</p>
<p>There are also a lot of ways to exercise. If your campus is big, the extra time spent walking will provide a lot of exercise. Most schools have gyms that are paid for by student fees. You could join an intramural sports team or take a rec class. You can go running or biking. Your school may have orgs where students get together to go jogging or biking. There are lots of different options. You’re bound to find something that fits your schedule, and if it’s important to you, you’ll make time.</p>
<p>I never exercised prior to coming to college – I am one of the least athletic people in the world and I’d probably rather get hit by a bus than go for a run. But I was terrified of the freshman 15, so I got a gym membership at my college. I try to make time to go once a week, which frankly is nothing compared to many students. Plenty of students go to the gym or go for a run every day, and I would probably have the time to if I didn’t hate it so much. </p>
<p>And as many people said, walking to class on a big campus (especially when it’s full of hills) can be exercise, too. I calculated once that I walk 2 or 3 miles back and forth from class every day, most of it uphill. My school also requires two PE credits, so that can be another way of exercising. If you’re athletic, you can always join a club sport. </p>
<p>It’s not easy but usually there’s always time if you’re motivated to take it. Certainly keep it in the back of your head when registering for classes. Each schedule will provide a different free time that’s ideal for you so it really does come down to a personal thing.</p>
<p>1-2 times a week for basketball at the gym. Or club workout socials</p>
<p>walking to/from classes, which I calculated out to be about 1 hour daily. Otherwise I go for hour long runs with rock climbing.</p>
<p>I don’t have any trouble exercising. During my first two years at my university I lived on campus and it was a 5 minute walk to the gym from my room. I went to the gym 5 days a week and if I went during the week, it was usually after all of my classes for that day. It’s hot in Texas and I don’t want to go to the gym between classes because after I shower after going to the gym, I may sweat as I walk to and from my final class. Now I love in an apartment and it has a gym so I just take the one minute walk to my own apartment’s gym when I’m done with class and it’s no trouble.</p>
<p>It will come down to your schedule/course load, the availability of a gym on campus, and the general student population. Like others have already said, you typically won’t have classes back-to-back all day like in HS. You might have 1-2 hour breaks between a few or be done by 2PM on some days. These times will typically be used to study and you can also squeak-in a session at the gym. </p>
<p>Which brings me back to the next point: availability. I initially assumed that all campuses would have a gym/rec center that’s free to students but apparently that’s not the case. I was lucky enough to attend a school like that, so hopefully you’ll find yourself in the same boat. Even if the gym isn’t free, it also depends on where it is in relation to where you spend your time (academic building, cafeteria, dorm, etc). If the gym is really important to you, maybe you can find a dorm on campus that’s not too far away. You’ll be much more likely to go if it’s a short walk from your dorm.</p>
<p>Now, as far as the general student population, I say this because some schools attract certain types of students, and certain types of students might care more about personal fitness than others. I always say people running on my campus, the gym was always full, and always ran into people in their yoga gear on the way to/from a class.</p>
<p>Either way, the things you can control most is your schedule and your motivation. If you want to work out, you’ll find a way ;)</p>
<p>And from an old person, I encourage you to start/continue working out NOW! It will make life much easier for you as you get older. I am going to a CrossFit gym and loving it. I’m older than almost everyone else, non-athletic, and slow, but I’m beating all of the other middle-aged people are aren’t getting their butts off the couch!</p>