“The greatest wealth is health.” — Virgil

Now that spring is slowly making a presence, summer will be here before you know it. With the first days of April arriving this week, I thought it would be a good time to implore you to start exercising outside.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults (that would be us) get a combination of either 30 minutes of moderate exercise for most days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise 3 days a week, along with strength training two days a week.

While this may sound like a lot, and hardly seem applicable to “barely adults,” it is important to start a routine early on to get in the mode of a healthy lifestyle. Living on a college campus like Stony Brook makes it pretty easy to get more than enough of a physical workout everyday.

While the bus may seem like a legitimate mode of transportation in the winter, I’d highly suggest walking everywhere now that the weather is getting better. Your skin will benefit from the mild exposure of the sun (Vitamin D production is stimulated by UV rays), and you will get a great mild cardio and strength workout lugging your books from Javits to the Union.

The average Stony Brook student takes 4-5 classes, and with a 10 minute walking break between classes, you can get up to 50 minutes of walking every day! And that’s just commuting! Climbing Tabler Steps, taking the long walk to SBS, and using the stairs instead of the elevator will also add numbers to your pedometer, not to mention your cardio workout.

Of course, because we are young, getting additional exercise is also a good idea. In addition to the secondary benefits from exercise (release of endorphins, muscle tone, relaxation), taking a half hour jog along Circle Road is a great way to break from your studies. The gym at the SAC is great, but now that the weather is getting better, use your exercise time wisely: explore the back trails near Marburger Drive. Take a bike ride to the golf course. Play Frisbee in the green near Staller.

There are so many ways to stay fit this spring — and while it may seem difficult at first, getting into the routine of exercise will eventually benefit you in more ways than you can imagine. And if none of these ideas still sound appealing to you, then take a quick train to Port Jefferson. After the walk to the Main Street (from the Station), you can more than enjoy a Ralph’s ice (now open!).