Counselling Corner articles feature tips from George Brown College counsellors. In this post Counsellor Aarti Dhanda provides advice on what to do when you're feeling low energy.
Let’s get real. College is hard and demanding. There are lots of assignments and group projects, and they all seem to be due at the same time!
Maybe you’ve been told to avoid pulling all-nighters and consuming energy drinks. You’ve also been reminded of the importance of getting enough sleep, eating properly, and exercising.
Are you wondering how this is all possible?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach that works for everyone. But sustaining your energy and health is important to succeed in your program. This means embracing some simple yet effective techniques that can help you do well in the long term and avoid periods of adrenaline followed by periods of crashing.
Here’s a quick list of things you can start now:
- Get up from your computer
If you don’t get enough sunlight during the day, your body doesn't produce enough melatonin to help you fall asleep and get restful sleep so you can have energy the next day. A quick walk outside in the morning, afternoon, and evening signals the brain and helps you at bedtime. Even on a cloudy cold day this will be effective. Taking a break will also increase your productivity, bring you back to the present moment, and reduce the stress hormone production, which can negatively impact your learning process. This is even more important now with online learning. So, take a walk around the block before you attend your next virtual class.
- Get your blood flowing
Exercise is very important for energy. You may assume you have to set aside a chunk of time to do this, which can feel overwhelming. That may be ideal, but research shows even five minutes of stretches, yoga or exercise will benefit you as it produces the feel-good hormone and increases our positivity. Pick something you enjoy and do this for five minutes, whenever you can.
- Reward yourself in a healthy way
After four or five hours of work, if possible, it is important to switch to a different activity. This is called active rest. Research shows that this makes your brain more productive and can help you solve problems and break through writer’s block because you are now also engaging the creative brain. Take a break and do a fun activity you enjoy like cooking, painting, colouring, dancing, or listening to music. Preferably something that gets your creative juices flowing. If you combine this with exercise, you can kill two birds with one stone. Again, if you don’t have time, try committing to just five or 10 minutes. If this is enjoyable for you, the reward centre of the brain will increase your motivation to do more of your work.
- Prioritize your work
If you struggle with perfectionism or high expectations, remind yourself that putting 80 per cent energy into every task will get you more results than 100 per cent into a few tasks. If your assignment is worth 10 per cent versus group project work worth 30 per cent, allocate your time accordingly. Prioritize learning over focusing on marks and fear of failing. What you will take with you when you graduate is what you have learned. Remember what excited you about your program!
FIND SUPPORT FROM COUNSELLING AND STUDENT WELL-BEING
If you need support, Counselling and Student Well-being's webpage lists resources.
You can book an appointment with a counsellor there, too.
You can also contact Peer Mentor + —check out their webpage for resources and social media handles.
