Photo credit: Gabi Campbell | @angelikagabi
It’s halfway through the semester and struggling through school is putting it lightly. The exhaustion from previous weeks has finally gotten to us and the anxiety from the thought of the coming weeks is just settling in.
The sound of the alarm clock is the worst noise on the planet, and let’s admit it, you have probably skipped a couple classes by now to sleep in. Or perhaps you have gotten into the habit of drinking three Dr. Peppers every day.
You have to keep your energy up and you can’t afford to miss more school so your hand reaches for the energy drinks, the caffeine, or lots and lots of sugar.
But sugar and caffeine can lead to crashes and leave you more tired by the end of the day, not to mention, it is detrimental to your health and can cause weight gain and serious health problems.
The solution to energy deficiency is quite simple if you take a few minutes out of your day to care about your body and listen to what it needs.
DRINK MORE WATER
Drinking eight glasses (64 oz.) of water every day will help you stay more alert. Your body is getting the energy it needs to go through the day because all of those cells are fueled ad ready to go. Not only will it keep your energy up, but drinking water has tons of benefits, like flushing out waste and boosting your immune system.
TAKE VITAMIN B12
In a Newsmax.com article titled “The Top 5 Benefits of B12,” B12 is described as a key part of keeping your body healthy and energetic: “It is needed to convert carbohydrates into glucose in the body, thus leading to energy production and a decrease in fatigue and lethargy in the body… [and] helps in healthy regulation of the nervous system, reducing depression, stress, and brain shrinkage.”
Those are only a few of the many benefits that B12 provides, which means not only would you be able to get through class but you’d be getting a healthier body while keeping it awake.
EXCERCISE
An object in motion wants to stay in motion. If you can take a little time out of your day to just get moving, even just jumping rope or jogging for 20 minutes, you will see your energy skyrocket. Your body will be more awake. Morning workouts are best because you’ll be energetic from the very first class of the day and you’ll continually burn calories all day as well.
However, if you have an 8 a.m. class, waking up at 5 a.m. to go jogging before getting ready isn’t ideal. Just exercise when you can and where you can. A few minutes a day can make all the difference.
Your body wants to help you get through these stressful times. It just needs a little love and care from its main source of nutrition: you. The more you take care of yourself, the better and healthier you become, and the more active you’ll be.
Don’t lose yourself to bad habits because your body will just lash out. If you take care of it, it will take care of you and your three hours of math homework.
