How a healthy lifestyle can impact our lives in the long run

They say the second year as a Bioengineering UG at Imperial is the toughest... I will not be able to confirm this until I get to the end of my degree, but I can assure you that we are a little overstretched at the moment.

In these past weeks, I often found myself swamped with the workload, plenty of meetings and endless to-do lists. The only thing that helps me cope with this constant pressure is taking care of both my physical and mental health.

First of all, I set strict boundaries to my sleep schedule: I personally need at least 8 hours of rest to feel refreshed, so instead of pushing back my bedtime I try to go to bed as soon as I can and wake up early. This allows me to be more productive during the day (as I cannot postpone things to later in the evening) and to be more efficient the following morning (well-rested and without any distraction). I am someone who loves to sleep in, but I can assure you that this little habit is life-changing!

Talking of waking up early in the morning (I believe nobody likes that part), my one and only motivation is breakfast. I love preparing a tasty and nutrient-dense breakfast that keeps me full throughout the entire morning. It is very important to understand what our body needs throughout the day and try to find a good balance of maronutrients and calories intake (also depending on our body type, activity level and health conditions).

Last Sunday I finished my first half marathon, and given that I have been running consistently for a bit more than three months I must admit that I am quite proud of my achievement. But regardless of the distance, every run is a little step forward towards a healthier body and a stronger mindset, as well as a great way to let go of your thoughts and enjoy some time outside. I highly recommend giving it a go: once you start, you just cannot stop!

My other favourite way to take some time off is cooking, from everyday meals (quick but also tasty and healthy!) to more elaborate dishes and baking creations when I have a bit more time. I have loved to mess around in the kitchen since I was a kid, and since then I kept experimenting (and improving my tidying up skills XD). Here in London I enjoy cooking for my flatmates (and I hope they like what I cook!), but I am also looking forward to going back to Italy and resume the culinary challenges with my family!

This routine really helps me to stay happy and motivated every single day while moving forward towards my biggest goals. It is not easy, but it is worth it! It takes 21 days to form a habit and 90 days to keep it, so start today :)