Park University: Student Life - Counseling Center

Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish, and complex carbohydrates. Limit simple sugars, fried foods, processed meats, and salty foods.
Exercise regularly. Five hours of aerobic exercise per week is recommended for cardiovascular fitness, weight control, and prevention of diabetes and heart disease. It also helps improve mood, concentration, and sleep.
Avoid alcohol. Binge drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men at one sitting. Alcohol increases high-risk behavior and impairs judgment. Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
Avoid illicit drugs. Marijuana is known as the “stepping stone” drug because most people who use pot regularly will “move up” to other drugs. Pot also increases high-risk behavior, impairs judgment, and impairs driving ability. Never drive or ride with someone who has been smoking pot.
Get plenty of rest. Older adolescents and young adults need at least 8 hours of sleep every night. It is not possible to “catch up” on sleep missed by pulling an all-nighter. It is best to go to bed and get up at the same time every day and avoid exercise, eating, and drinking caffeine right before going to bed.
Shower or bathe everyday with antibacterial soap and wear deodorant. Living in close quarters with other people requires proper hygiene. This will help avoid body odor and skin infections that can occur in people who do not bathe regularly.

Wear a seatbelt every time you ride in a car. Whether you are the driver or passenger, you need to wear a seatbelt. Most deaths from car accidents occur when someone is ejected from the car. Seat belts prevent ejection and will save your life!
Never walk alone at night on campus. Even during the day, it is safer to walk with someone. If there is no one to walk with, call campus security for an escort at any time.
Never leave your drink unattended at a bar or party. That gives someone the perfect opportunity to put something in your drink, such as the date-rape drug.
If you drink alcohol, do not drink excessively or to the point of drunkenness. Date-rape and other sexual/physical abuse often occur when the victim or abuser is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Use a condom every time you have sex, even if you are on birth control. Condoms can provide protection from most sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia. They do not always protect you from herpes, warts, and syphilis. Abstinence from sex is the best protection from STDs and pregnancy.

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