Staying fit at university can seem like an impossible task. There’s the lure of drinks with friends on the weekends and takeaways after a long day on campus for starters. Not to mention the fact that many students already struggle to make ends meet, and gym memberships are often anything but cheap. But keeping fit doesn’t have to be difficult, nor does it have to break the bank – you simply have to be a bit savvy about your workout routine. Don’t believe us? Well, we’ve got nine cheap tips that will help you to keep in tip-top shape while you’re away from home…

1. Find a Fitness Video
Once upon a time, you would have had to head to a gym for a class or, if you wanted to work from home then you would have needed to purchase a fitness DVD. Nowadays there are thousands of videos available for free online, so you’d be crazy not to make the most of them. Clear some space at home, make sure your laptop has enough charge and simply press play!

2. Use your phone to keep fit
We are so used to having access to everything at the touch of a button now, so it makes sense that there is now such a huge market of fitness apps available too. There are apps that will track your steps and motivate you to do more throughout the day, there are training apps such as the couch to 5k and even yoga instruction apps, among others, so you’re sure to find at least one that you will enjoy!

3. Walk when you can
Walking is such an underrated form of exercise but a brisk walk a day can have a huge impact on your overall fitness levels. And the best part is that, more often than not, you can fit walking into your daily routine with minimal effort. Try walking to uni, to town or to your friend’s instead of getting the bus or booking a taxi. In fact, even taking the stairs instead of the lift will make a big difference…

4. Join a society
One of the best things about uni is the huge amount of societies on offer so you’d be crazy not to give one a go while you’re there. Not only are they a great way to meet new people but they are often also very cheap and they can provide you with the perfect way to try out a sport that you may never have considered before. The highly competitive team sports will cost more as you’ll need to fork out for insurance for those too, however, these are often still cheaper than they would be if you took part outside of the uni. And for those who don’t want to spend that little bit extra, there is still a huge array of lower level sports that can be just as fun, but not as costly!

5. Sort out your diet
There’s no point working out if you ruin all of your hard work with a poor diet. That’s not to say that you can’t ever have a takeaway again, but make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water and try to keep junk food as a treat, rather than a daily occurrence.

6. Turn your home into a gym
Who says that you need fancy equipment to work out? Make the most of what you’ve got at home if you can’t justify forking out for a gym membership. Use your stairs as a way to get in some interval training and clear a space in your room for squats, push-ups and star jumps.

7. Head to the local park with your friends
There’s no doubt about it, uni is stressful so why not take some time out with your friends? Pick a sunny (or at least dry) day, grab a football and go for a quick kickaround in your local park. If football isn’t your thing, many towns and cities will have free tennis and basketball courts that you can make the most of. Not only will the hour out of the house be a great laugh but it will also be a brilliant stress relief and regular meetups will get you fit in no time at all!

8. Clean up your act!
Did you know you’re already working out from the comfort of your own home without even thinking about it? Changing your sheets, hoovering and sweeping the floor are just a few of the household activities that will have you burning calories without evening knowing it. Set aside an hour or two a week to get some intensive cleaning done – it will make you feel better both physically and mentally as you’ll burn some good calories and you’ll have a tidy space to relax in afterwards.

9. Make the most of your student discount
If you’re finding that you simply cannot exercise outside of a gym then cut your losses and find one that is local to your uni campus. Many gyms in the uni area will offer student discount or the option to pay as you go which can make it a much more affordable option.

Shannon Clark writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs. You can find more of her writing at www.shannonlclark.com and www.sweetserendipityblog.co.uk.