Once university begins many students suddenly find themselves in new routines, which usually do not involve the words "fitness" and "exercise", a.k.a. a healthy, academically productive lifestyle. Here's five top tips on how to break the vicious cycle of living an unhealthy lifestyle and start a new exercise routine. 

1. Find a fitness buddy

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Finding the motivation to fit in your exercise after a busy day at university can be a struggle. If this is the case for you, then maybe asking a friend to join you on your fitness journey is a good idea.

Having a fitness buddy accompany you during workouts can be extremely rewarding, as you can provide a source of motivation and support for one another.

A fitness buddy can add a more social aspect to your exercise routine, and you may even start to look forward to your work outs and the opportunity to catch up. Together, you can help to encourage one another and make sure that you both stay on track.

2. Join a sports club

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Aston University offers a number of sports clubs and societies that you will always be welcome to join. Whether it’s football, hockey, rugby, table tennis or rowing you prefer, you should be left spoilt for choice with the amount of clubs on offer. If the prospect of going alone is rather daunting for you, why not ask a friend to come along with you?

Alternatively, you may even want to start up your own sports team and go in search of new teammates. The camaraderie can be a great way to socialise and make new friends, whilst also fitting in your exercise.

3. Take it step by step

So you've got a small routine going, and maybe you can jog without stopping for 15 minutes. Well done! But always remember that fitness is a long-term goal and one that will hopefully stay with you for the rest of your life. No one needs to overstretch their limits in the early stages of a new exercise routine. Do keep up the routine in a pace you feel most comfortable with, otherwise you may suffer from plateaus and exhaustion.  

4. Choose activities you enjoy

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Be selective in choosing several exercise routines that you enjoy and feel most comfortable with. Some people are naturally born to run; some are built for swimming; some simply aren't meant for particular exercises. Which type of exercise is suitable for you? Do you enjoy group activities, or are you a solo rider? These points are just some of the many things to think about when you're choosing a sustainable exercise routine for university. If you enjoy something, it's much more likely that the activity will stick around for good. 

5. Just do it

The Nike slogan is one to live by, because it embodies the spirit everyone needs to kick-start a new routine and launch yourself into something new and healthy. To get started, first prepare your mind. Think about all the benefits of activity and exercise, and write these down. The only person who can motivate you to get started is you, so after you give it a think, an easy way to move forwards is simply to get up and start moving! 

Finally, it's important not to forget one word: balance. Balance is important when you're living life to the fullest (something students should do during their golden university years) and it's also very significant when you're striving for a healthy lifestyle. 

So, start right now – why not go for a swim or join a fitness class? Sport Aston have offer may ways to get active to suit everyone’s needs.