When in college it seems like you never have enough time.  From work to school to homework it seems like were always exhausted as college students.  Often students get little sleep, stay up or out too late, and go day by day with just a few hours of sleep.  With such a busy schedule it seems impossible to get the 8 hours of sleep that are recommended each day.  To start feeling better and not so exhausted all the time consider some of the tips below for getting more energy when in college.

Make time for sleep.  First of all you need to set a schedule for yourself.  If you have an exam later on in the week don’t wait until the last minute to study.  To do the best you can on tests and exams you need as much sleep as you can get.   Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.  Make your other events work around sleep, not the other way around.  Sleep is very important for concentration, and your health.  So make sure you have an organized schedule planned out ahead of time, and do a little bit each day.

Eat a well balanced diet.  First of all eat all your fruits and vegetables.  Make sure you follow the food pyramid as close as possible.  Getting the vitamins you need daily, and eating the way you should will give you more energy than you can imagine.  When going to get fast food at McDonalds how do you feel after?  Most people feel sluggish and want to take a nap.  Now compare that to how you feel after you know you had a healthy dinner.  Think about it!

Get your daily exercise.  Make sure you are at least taking 30 minutes a day for your body.  Those 30 minutes mean so much to your body.  Whether you are stretching, running, walking, riding your bike, anything!  Just make sure you get up, get out and give your heart a little bit of a challenge.  When exercising you release endorphins which give you a positive attitude, feel energized and ready to go for the day.  Once again, how do you feel if you don’t exercise and how do you feel after you do exercise?

Beverage selection.  Make sure you are making smart choices when it comes to beverages.  Avoid energy drinks!  You don’t need them, they are expensive, unhealthy and have no nutrients.  Instead drink teas, 100% juices, and water.  Water should really be your best friend. If you don’t like the taste of just water, add propel packets!  They are great and have a low amount of sugar.  Popular flavored water drinks are propel, gatorade, and powerade. 

Manage your stress.  Everyone should have a planner, they are a great way to organize your life.  Make sure you allow yourself to get things done a in reasonable time frame, keep up on your homework, and make time for friends.  Stress is very harmful to your body.  Not only does it weaken your immune system but it makes you feel horrible inside and out.  Take care of yourself!

As you can see there are many ways to increase your energy levels as a college student.  Keep an organized life, get out and have fun with friends and work hard.  It seems so busy and stressful now but take a look at what your future will be like when you graduate!