Any Ideas for increased energy for getting through school?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

We all know just how demanding going to school can be. What are some things you have done to help increase your physical energy and mental stamina? How do you stay awake at night to study? My lights go out at 10:30 at night and no amount of coffee will keep me awake!

Everyone says eating a balanced diet and excercise and sleep are the best ways to give yourself more energy but I need more -

I've tried energy tabs but those only make me shaky and irritable.

Hmmm.... You sound like me. But look at the bright side; I now can say I earned these "sleepy eyes" ... :chuckle

Best advice: Study smart.

A couple of things that worked for me:

Tape record vital notes and review on your drive to/from school.

If you have no study partner, tape notes like this: "The nurse who started the Red Cross was [pause 2 seconds] Clara Barton." During the pause, try to answer.

Try to follow along in the book and put the page # on your notes for a more in-depth reference.

As you go along in school, chat with your other classmates and see what kind of system they use, and how it gets results for them.

Always attend class reviews. Tape them, if allowed. Often, at my school, every single thing mentioned in the review got a question on the test, and it was a matter of how fast you wrote.

Join a study group, but don't get real dependent on them. Always have your own stuff to contribute.

Two things that I found really helped me in nursing school:

#1: I would take a 1-2 hour nap right when I got home from school. That way when I woke up, I was refreshed and ready to work. If you're not the type that can take a nap and then sleep well that night, at least spend this time doing something relaxing. That way you're ready to focus on what needs to be done.

#2: Don't procrastinate!!! If your body cuts off at 10:30, then there's really nothing you can do to change that. But if you don't procrastinate on getting your work done, then you know that if it's 10:30 and you're worn out, you can sleep easy because you still have the next day to finish what you're working on.

I don't know whether you're a morning person, but my friends and I would get a good nights sleep and then meet early in the morning over breakfast to study or reveiw, etc. Worked like a charm!

I am a morning person and have found that to be true. What I usually do is get to school as soon as I drop my son off at school and spend the hour before my first class to review. Although I could go home around 1:00 everyday, I stay at school to study. If I try to study at home, everything starts talking to me, you know, "The dishes need to be done.", or "Ugh, you could go ahead and start dinner." Anyway, the school library is more conducive to studying.

I also shut down about 10:30 or so every night. But I would try to study in the morning, at the library (my fav) or even in my car!

I always taped my lectures (seemed to help), but I am going to use one...the one from sleepyeyes....taping my notes and then leaving a pause in there....I like that idea!

And....take your books EVERYWHERE you go!

Julie:)

Hi Julie, Yes, I have been taping my difficult lectures now for the past two semesters. I would go back and listen to them again and just add to my notes what the instructor really stressed. It really helped. My study-buddy would literally write down everything the instructor said, It would take her hours but she did make nearly perfect grades on her exams, but for me that's a little too time consuming. I need to study more effectively.

Drink Plenty of H2O!

I heard on news show that dehydration is the #1 cause of fatigue in women. Probably the same for men too.

I have been trying to stay vigilant in drinking plenty of water and I have noticed a difference.

wow! I hadn't heard that before, but I am trying to drink more water. We are out in the heat so much watching soccer games that I have to drink a lot of water. I probably need even more. Also, I heard that drinking a gallon of water a day will also aid in weight loss.

Speaking of weight loss, has anyone been successful with a weight loss program that is not way off the wall? I believe that whatever method a person uses to lose weight, has to become a way of life or the weight just comes right back. I guess this topic should be part of another forum, but I know extra weight can make you tired, too.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Long Term Care.

Hi Deb! I started a thread in June entitled, "What Weight Loss Plan Works for You?" and it has some ideas that might be helpful.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17813&highlight=weight+loss

I know that "eat less, move more" makes sense, but the best diet plan for life that I've found is Weight Watchers. I've lost 9 lbs. since June and am trying to see this as a "plan", not a diet, (a permanent vs. temporary solution). I know it takes some time, money, and effort which might be too much right now with your schedule, but you can check out the Weight Watchers site at:

http://www.weightwatchers.com/r_vg_index.asp

They even have an online program that might work for you. But, if you just want to follow something on your own, I can give you other ideas if you'd care to email me.

I've found that having a brisk walk between classes really helps, especially those 3-4 hour lectures !

It is true that a little exercise everyday does make you feel better and more energetic.

Don't know about anyone else but here in my part of Ohio we are having a "heat" wave.. 105 heat index... the exercise bike in the cool basement is looking really good to me these days. !!

Marie :nurse:

I agree with RN-PA that "Weight Watchers" is a pretty good program. I have never joined it but many of my co-workers formed a support group and joined and my mother also joined it on her own and did the "Point System". She let me look at how the point system works and it is easy to follow, nutritious, and I have known many people who went on it and lost weight and kept it off.

It really opened my eyes as to how much fat even the littlest things can have and how bad they can be for you. If you plan out what you are going to eat for the day you can still fit in some high point foods like desserts, etc. so if you have a craving you can fit it in.

Another Bonus is it gets you into the habit of eating good things and getting away from going after bad things.

+ Add a Comment