5 Ways to Deal with Fatigue for Busy Students

By Dante Munnis

College can be the right place to face fatigue. It is there that you might feel overwhelmed by so many classes to attend, books to read, and assignments to write.

But while is expected that you feel tired quite often, it is not like you have to be like this for your entire college’s years.

All you have to do is to understand what might be causing it and start fighting against it.

You might need to change some of your habits and make some sacrifices. But rest assured that it will all pay off in the end.

# 1 – Sleep more

Yes. You need to sleep more to combat your fatigue. It is understandable that you feel like not having the time to rest. There is so much to do and not enough hours in a day. So you grab another cup of coffee and keep your eyes open for as long as you can until you fall asleep on your books – so you can be close to it and start again in the morning.

But the truth is that it won’t do you any good. If your body is asking to sleep, your brain will shut down for business, and it will not absorb any new information. Meaning that, except if you are doing something very mechanical (which you probably are not), you will not be able to learn anything. You are just wasting your time.

Plus, your brain only processes what you have learned while you are asleep. So if you do not sleep, it won’t have a chance to do it. As a consequence, during your exam, you will not remember what you have studied precisely because your brain has not stored it. You have just wasted your time again.

# 2 – Eat well

Eating healthy can be a challenge to college students. And this applies in particular among those living in the campus or anywhere away from the family home for the first time. It is much easier (and cheaper) to open a couple of cans, boil some noodles, or get a burger at the nearest diner.

But it also means that your body might be suffering from a lack of nutrients. And that what you are calling fatigue is caused by your body crying for vitamins and minerals. That is to say that a balanced diet can help you to improve your study performance and the quality of your life as a whole.

So make sure that you find a way to cook your own meals (it can be as cheap as buying a takeout). Buy groceries with your classmates so not avoid waste. Cooking will also give you the break you need to rest your mind while you are studying.

# 3 – Deal with the stress

Another important thing to highlight here is that you will have to learn to deal with stress in college. If you are a freshman, it is OK to think that the world is coming to an end. But from the second year and beyond, you will have to realise that this is how things are in college.

You will have to accept that school is over and that your workload has increased. And that your professors expect much more from you compared to your school’s teachers. Assignments will be more complex and frequent, and classed will be more demanding.

When you accept this scenario as a reality, you will start minimising the effects of it in your mind. It will be of no surprise anymore so that you can get prepared. And more exams you do, more used you will be to them. You will get to know the system and what your teachers are expecting from you. So calm down, because you will see things much clearly over the time.

# 4 – Check your health

If you are doing your best and cannot see why you are feeling fatigue, maybe it is time for you to look for medical assistance.

Sometimes, fatigue can be caused by a physical condition, such as thyroid problems or anaemia. It could also be a symptom of anxiety or depression. These and many other reasons can only be detected by a qualified doctor so that a full check-up could help you in it.

But do not worry, most of these conditions can be overcome with medication, diet, and psychological support. So it is more about you identifying them as soon as possible, so you can learn what you have to do to get back on your feet.

# 5 – Plan better

Ultimately, your fatigue could be caused by a lack of organisational skills and procrastination. You might be wasting time focusing on tasks that are not as important as you think, or doing research that does not take you anywhere.

So start by creating a study plan. Then, stick to it. Find out all your classes’ timetables and assignments’ due dates. Get everything time lined so you know when you have to do what and what are your priorities.

And forget about leaving anything to the last minute. Make of studying every day a habit, so you will not feel overwhelmed by trying to read hundreds of pages just before an exam, for example. It certainly is a recipe for fatigue and for low grades.

Wrapping it up

Fatigue in college is often caused either by our own bad habits, medical conditions, or stress. And there is nothing wrong in feeling like this. College is an opportunity to mature, so it is all about personal growth as well.

But you have your goals, so do not let it take over you. See how you can change these habits or look for professional support, if you need it. Just do not let fatigue destroy your dreams.

BIO: Dante Munnis is a blogger and idea maker from Stockholm who is interested in self-development, web related topics and success issues. Currently he is working on his own project of college application essay writing service to help students achieve their goals.

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