For those of us who hate the gym but still want to be in shape, it can be a challenge. Once you get to college, it becomes easier to gain weight than you would imagine, but it also opens up opportunities to stay in shape without going to the gym. With campus lifestyles, you are left with so many ways to get in shape on campus. Whether it feels like exercise or you are just making your way to class, getting in shape while avoiding the gym is easy to do while in college!
Just about every campus has a ridiculous amount of stairs throughout it. In some schools, it is nearly impossible to avoid taking the stairs, so this is a must in some areas. It seems like a simple addition to your routine for working out, but it really does make a difference. You are going to be taking the path anyways, so you might as well burn a few extra calories taking the stairs and getting a small, yet effective workout in without even trying! Oftentimes, girls are told to avoid the stairs for safety reasons, but most campuses have outdoor stairs where you can feel the burn while still feeling safe! It might not seem like the most enjoyable way to go about exercising, but it is an effective method that is easy to do on a college campus!
Whether you go to a small community college, medium-sized university, or massive college campus, chances are there are still plenty of walking paths you have to take to get to class. The amount of time spent walking in between classes is usually a large portion of your time, if you go to a big university. Try spending more time walking around campus and not taking the regular path you take every day to class. Explore parts of your university that you don’t get to see on an everyday basis. There are so many beautiful parts of a university’s campus, and oftentimes, we miss out on it because we take the same route everyday. Focus on taking the long way to class so you can burn those extra calories and enjoy the fresh air and scenic views on your way to a day full of class!
Intramural sports are a great way to get active on campus while avoiding the gym! Intramural sports are perfect for those of us who didn’t want to play college-level sports, but who still enjoy playing sports or are looking for new activities to try out. It is a fun way to meet new people, get active, and have fun on campus while getting a good workout in! If you played sports in high school but did not want to be a college athlete, joining an intramural sports team could be a fun alternative to get you involved in a team in college. Some schools have a variety of teams and sports that you may have never had the opportunity to try before, so this could be an option to try something new while staying active in college! This can be a great way to get adapted to a new campus while working out and avoiding the gym.
Most college towns are laid out in a way that allows easy access to campus from walking. Even if you live in an off-campus apartment or house, you can usually still find a way to walk to campus. Once you are there, avoid taking the shuttle around campus, taking the elevator, and sitting around in between classes. Stay active while enjoying the beauty of your university. If you live in a dorm, this is probably an easy task to do since you don’t have much of an option, but for upperclassmen, try to implement this into your daily routine. As long as you live in an area that has a safe walking path to campus, avoiding the bus or the horrid parking garages of a college campus is a great way to get some fresh air and avoid the stress of other forms of transportation.
Depending on where you attend school, there is a strong possibility that there will be bike lanes throughout campus. Riding a bike is not only a great way to get in extra exercise but also a quick way to get to class. You can find trails throughout other parts of the town and bike extra if you feel like you are not getting enough exercise this way. Biking to class is also a great way to sleep in and not worry about running late to class. If you have extra time in between classes, just ride your bike around the bike lanes until your class is about to start. It will help clear your mind, get some fresh air, and exercise without feeling like you are working out.
If you go to a university that has lots of nature nearby, finding outdoor activities on or near campus can be a great way to stay in shape. Going to school with a river nearby, my university has lots of ways to get some quick and fun exercise in, such as paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and even swimming and floating. If you have access to any hiking trails, rivers, lakes, or even the ocean, take advantage of attending a school with such great nature surrounding it. Make working out something that is fun and enjoyable, so you will actually look forward to exercising. Avoiding the gym in college is something so many of us are looking to do, so look outside and see what your town has to offer. Whether it be on campus or nearby, there are so many outdoor activities that can be a fun way to not only get acquainted with people in your college town but to also stay active while having fun!
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