Any tips for hectic college and work life?

sasta le

Started a course so im gonna in class 9 to 3 4 days a week and till 12 on a Friday
Then I will be working evenings till 1am 4 or 5 nights

Just looking for any tips on keeping up the energy levels or any other tips

UnknownSpecies

sasta le wrote: »

Started a course so im gonna in class 9 to 3 4 days a week and till 12 on a Friday
Then I will be working evenings till 1am 4 or 5 nights

Just looking for any tips on keeping up the energy levels or any other tips

Coffee in the mornings. I also take Magnesium and Zinc tablets and it gives me great quality sleep, which will help with energy levels.

Chancer3001

Buy a lunchbox.

Bring food in it to eat.


Eat bananas

doctorwhogirl

Eat well and you shouldn't need the supplements really. That being said I take omega 3 and calcium but the former is because I'm guilty of not getting enough oily fish sometimes and the latter for my own health needs as prescribed by a doctor. Make sure you've lots of healthy snacks for energy levels like nuts (smallish portion), seeds, cottage cheese and oatcakes etc... for when you're working the evenings on top of the day at college.

Then plan! I've got a pretty busy schedule at the minute in terms of work and extra stuff I've on so today I got up early, did my food shop. I have an idea of what I'm going to eat for the week in my head. Came home, got 5 lunchboxes out and did my salads and other bits for the week. Some Sunday's I'll spent an extra half hour and make a batch of some dinner for the freezer. The food shop takes about 30 mins because I know what I'm getting and the lunch prep/dinner prep takes about an hour max altogether. But it frees up a lot more time during the week.

So basically take the time you know you'll have free and use some of it to get ready for the week ahead! Really helps!

sasta le

Thanks for the replies.Started last week induction etc but the real fun sounds tomorrow

Was asking about diet advice but also could I ask here about sleep etc and saying napping before work after college

spaceylou

sasta, I had a similarly hectic schedule last year balancing work and a masters and like the others said the key really is being organised. If you have access to a microwave in work (or college) even better because a big batch of homemade soup divided into individuals portions can go a long way and be really nice on a cold winters evening - healthy and economical.

Start the day with something substantial like porridge.

Aside from meals, I kept a ready supply of emergency snacks in my locker in college, my desk in work and my bag - stuff like:

portions of nuts and currents
Carrot Sticks and Humous - okay this one needed a fridge if it wasn't going to be eaten
Crackers and peanut butter
Rice cakes
Bananas - great fruit, filling and even come with their own packaging
Cereal Bars
Bag of popcorn
Dried Fruit.

For the days you are not organised - there will be some and that is perfectly okay, its handy to have already sussed out where the places with decent grub AND a student discount are. I am not sure if you said where you are based but if you are in Dublin for example, KC Peaches do a student discount and you can get salad boxes or hot food to take away, imagine there are plenty of places around the city and country like that. Most of the burrito places do student discounts as well and while they are not the most healthy in the world, if you get plenty of salad, beans, and go easy on the cheese etc the odd one is not so bad.

You also mentioned the need for sleep and napping. Everyone is different but I found that coffee in the morning (after porridge) was the best thing ever and maybe another in the late morning/early afternoon. I really tried to avoid having it much later than that as it effected how well I would sleep at night.

If you reckon you won't get your 8 hours each night, fair enough. We all know that is what we should be getting (or in and around that) but its not always possible. Do try and get as close to this as possible though and do try ensure you get enough at weekends. I have the ability to nap anywhere and everywhere so if you are similarly blessed you can have a power nap in the library, on the bus, in the staff room etc - just remember to set an alarm.

Also try your very hardest to get in some exercise during the week. It will be hard at times, so many demands on your time but it is worth it. You will sleep better, feel better, and the time away from the books can sometimes help a concept to click or an idea to form as your sub-conscious continues to work away on the problem.

I used to also block off a saturday or sunday every couple of weeks that was going to be a nothing day. I'd sleep late, maybe meet a friend for something not remotely taxing like the cinema or food or sometimes I'd just take it as a duvet day. It is not the most healthy habit and since I finished studying and only have work to contend with I don't do it anymore but I was so tired keeping up with everything that a day of doing nothing was what my body needed every 3 - 4 weeks.

Hope that helps and best of luck!