With the change to Autumn now in full swing and the end of Daylight Savings looming ahead of us, it’s time to focus on our routines and aim to stay in routine as much as possible. There will be times where you may need to adjust your routine, such as swapping a late evening walk to an early morning walk when there will be more light. This fortnight we’ll be focusing on some healthy habits to help get you back on track!
First up I’m bringing you some of my favourite healthy snacks! These are my go-to all year ’round, but particularly so in the cooler months when I find myself time poor because I’ve stayed cosy in bed much longer than I should have!
Hummus & Veggie Sticks
In fact, you could use other dips like tzatziki too – but hummus is a great option when it comes to nutrition because it acts as a source of both protein and dietary fiber. Add in some veggie sticks, and you have a well rounded healthy snack that really doesn’t take too much time to prepare.
And, if you’re going to say you don’t have time to chop up your veggies every morning… there’s no excuses! I know for myself, I get stressed if I am out of bed late so I will always prefer something that is ‘grab n go’ for my work snacks. So, I always prep on the weekend and cut up some fruit and veggies to store in containers for the week so that I have options. You can also buy veggie sticks from the supermarket so if that works better for you, then go for it!
Apple and Nut Butter
Now, this one is my all time favourite! I loved packing this to school with me, and I still eat it most days as my evening snack at home. I personally prefer natural peanut butter, but you can choose any nut butter you like. Almond spread is also quite nice with apples.
If I am preparing this to take with me somewhere, I will core the apple first and then slice into rings. From here, I will spread some peanut butter onto each apple ring and stack them on top of one another to form the full apple again before wrapping in foil or putting in a container. Did you know? Foil can be placed in the recycling bin!
Of course, you can cut up the apple however you prefer and use the peanut butter as a spread or a dip!
Frozen Fruits
Now, hear me out with this one! With the colder weather coming, it sounds like more of a summer snack. BUT, I love the convenience of having fruit that is already chopped up! I love adding frozen berries and frozen mango to my yoghurts. The best thing is, when I do this it keeps my yoghurt cold enough until I can get to work and put it in the fridge.
Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are packed full of vitamins and minerals, in addition to nutrients such as protein and fiber. You can buy snack-sized packs from your local supermarket, making them easy to ‘grab n go’. If you prefer to cook them yourself, check out this super easy recipe.
“Healthy is an outfit that looks different on everybody.”
Now we’ve looked at some healthy snack options, next up is our sleep hygiene! Sleep hygiene is essentially your good sleeping habits. It encompasses all of your healthy habits and the environmental factors that can affect how you sleep and also your sleep routine.
Your body clock will take some time to adjust to daylight savings since we will be experiencing changes to daylight. This is why it’s so important to ensure we have good sleep hygiene, so we have a smooth transition and don’t have an impacted sleep schedule. I’ve listed below my top tips for creating good sleep habits:
- Relax and unwind for at least an hour before going to sleep. I enjoy reading and have recently got back into colouring in.
- Try and avoid your phone and other screens before bed. Use a blue light filter in the evenings if you are studying at night to help.
- Maintain the same times for going to bed and waking up so that your body clock gets into routine. If you’re struggling with waking up, put your phone somewhere that you have to move and get out of bed in order to turn off the alarm.
- Open up your blinds/curtains as soon as you wake up to let in the sunlight.
There are a lot of things you can do to improve your sleep hygiene, check out the links provided in the Resources tab!
Lastly, I wanted to touch on the Australian healthcare system. It can be tricky to navigate, especially when you first arrive to Sydney. Have you heard of the International Student Health Hub? This website was created by NSW Health in conjunction with local health districts, UNSW and other health organisations. There is a super useful section on navigating the Australian healthcare system.
If you are unwell, you should go to a doctor (GP) rather than to the hospital like you may in other countries overseas. You should go to the hospital for emergencies only. You can access the UNSW Health Clinic, or if they are fully booked you can search for a GP near your home through HotDoc. You can also download the hotdoc app onto your phone for added convenience.
Medibank also have a 24/7 Student Health & Support Line that you can access, with translators available.
There is lots to take in when it comes to our healthcare system, so always be sure to ask questions if you are unsure. It is always helpful to understand your OSHC and what coverage you have. You can contact your provider at any time with questions you have.
Student Profile
Name: Monica
What did you study at UNSW College?
Arts and Social Sciences.
What are you studying now?
Bachelor of Arts and Business.
What is one thing you do to maintain a healthy sleep routine?
I put my phone on do not disturb by 10pm so I don’t stay up looking at my notifications.
What is your favourite study snack?
A couple of chocolate chip cookies!
What is one thing you wish you knew about Australian healthcare before arriving in Sydney?
That not everything is covered by my OSHC and I may need to pay for some GP visits because they don’t take certain insurance companies.
Featured Events
THRIVE Thursday
Date: Thursday 4 April
Time: 12pm – 1pm & 4:30pm – 6pm
Location: Common Room, Level 1, L5 Building, UNSW College
THRIVE on World Health Day
Date: Monday 8 April
Time: 11am – 7pm
Location: Common Room & Courtyard, Level 1, L5 Building, UNSW College
Fortnightly Program
THRIVE Thursday
Date: Thursday 11 April
Time: 12pm – 1pm & 4:30pm – 6pm
Location: Common Room, Level 1, L5 Building, UNSW College
Resources
