Heading to college classes, working, staying healthy, and finding time to study, eat, sleep, and socialize all require energy. But there is only so much natural energy that each of us has to carry us throughout the day before we are simply exhausted…
But by managing things like diet, exercise, study habits, social habits, and sleep schedules, we can better maintain our energy level and help it to last longer throughout the day.
Create a Healthy Diet Plan
As a college student, you probably don’t have loads of money to spend on the most elaborate diet plan; and in general, you have to find what specifically works for you as an individual. For starters, eating breakfast is key to kickstarting your amount of energy for the day – without breakfast, that amount is already at a low level.
For breakfast, try something energy-building like a smoothie bowl, eggs, or oatmeal. Foods as simple (and cheap) as these provide lots of energy and protein for the day – even if you didn’t get all of the sleep you needed the night before! From then, classes will be a breeze, and you’ll be able to replenish your energy with lunch.
For lunch, try fueling up on carbs and greens so that you can have the energy for work and studying throughout the entire afternoon. Again, even lunch does not have to be costly, and it also does not have to take so long to make! And if you take the time to prepare your lunch, you can have leftovers for dinner, cutting down on even more time.
Set Aside Time to Stay in Shape
Sometimes we may think that all of the work and studying we have can be used as an excuse for not working out and staying in shape. But if you take as little as 20 minutes a day, or even every other day, to do some aerobic exercise, you can stay fit and keep your energy levels high.
Just allotting this small amount of time to work out can even help boost your mood and help you feel more optimistic. High levels of happiness and optimism are very important for staying strong-minded while on your journey to college success.
Maintain a Strict Study Schedule
Study habits can influence your energy at tremendous levels. These habits can be developed by a series of questions:
- Who are you studying with?
- What are you studying?
- Where are you studying?
- When are you studying?
- How are you studying?
Let’s break these down! First, think of who you are studying with. Are they studying the same subject as you? If yes, are you helping each other study successfully? Make sure you’re choosing to study with someone who can stay focused, and help you stay productive, as going off topic can lead to unnecessary late nights. This, in turn, can leave you with less energy to study for your other classes.
Next, take a look at what are you studying. Is it an easy subject? Or do you find it to be a bit challenging? When you figure out a specific groove for how you study particular subjects, you are able to better understand how much time you need to give to each so that your studying can be successful.
You should also be sure to take where you are studying into account. On a college campus, there are nearly endless places for you to hit the books. But whichever place you choose, make sure it’s an environment where you can stay focused and be productive. Don’t stay in your room just because your bed is comfy, especially if you find yourself becoming distracted too easily.
Perhaps the factor that most affects your energy levels is when you choose to study. Make sure to choose a time that’s beneficial for you and your body, and that it’s a time that helps with the progress of comprehending the material. Pulling all-nighters every night might not be the best way to retain information and stay energized. Remember you are human, and you need sleep to maintain efficiency in your work and success as a college student.
Leave Room for your Social Life
Social scheduling is very important when it comes to allocating your energy in considerable amounts. Even with what may seem like an impossible schedule, it’s important to find time for hanging out with friends or significant others on the weekdays so that you can give the rest of your time to classes, studying and work.
College comes with a lot of changes, especially for those of us who are away from home for the first time. Spending time with those around us who are going through the same changes can help to minimize stress. Not to mention, a huge benefit of attending college is the chance to meet all kinds of different people.
Getting breakfast, getting lunch, or even studying with your peers can work as double whammies. You don’t ever have to think that being at college means not being able to spend time with friends. We are human beings, we are social people, it’s in our nature. Just make sure that you prioritize so that you are getting the most out of your day to ensure college success – remember that you’re at college for a reason.
Don’t Forget to Sleep
Lastly, sleep scheduling is very beneficial for energy. We are told that 6-8 hours of sleep is the amount we need every day; but with all the studying and work we have to do, how can we honestly make that time on a regular basis?
Try to at least get as close to that amount of sleep as possible, and make sure that naps are included in your schedule when it’s possible. Regular sleep is critical to both our physical and mental health. And without it, there’s simply no way to keep our energy levels up enough to succeed in school.
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