MCTCollege students have certain ways to deal with their fatigue, whether it involves drinking coffee, taking a shower or going for a jog. But what happens when those techniques wear off?
The people from Prevention magazine studied a variety of research studies on the body and discovered new ways for people to stay awake and alert throughout the day.
Daryn Eller, a health writer, wrote an article on eight tips and said that this is a perfect plan to feel “refreshed and recharged.”
Chris Hyson, director of Health & Wellness Education, was asked whether or not she agreed with the points in the article.
Hyson said that she agrees with some and not others.
Hyson said it depends on the person because each body is different.
Eller said that drinking coffee in the morning is a waste of time because it will wear off in the afternoon. He suggests that drinking coffee mid-afternoon will keep you energized for the rest of the day.
Brittany DeCicco, a senior history and political science major, agrees with this advice because she usually drinks coffee in the afternoon but when she does drink it in the morning she crashes by early afternoon.
Hyson disagrees. She believes that water, exercise or eating a healthy snack is more helpful late in the day.
Eller also advises not to take power naps, rather to go out into the sunlight for awhile to restore energy.
“I like my naps,” Mary Rita, a sophomore education major, said. Although she said she feels more tired afterward, she believes it’s worth it.
Another point Eller makes is that it’s better to listen to music while exercising because a person won’t exert themselves as much.
Melissa Benedetti, a junior exercise science major, said that listening to music while working out is just a distraction, much like watching television. She doesn’t really pay attention to it anymore.
The amount of carbohydrates a person takes in is another point. Eller said that if a person eats too many it will be “an energy drain.”
Matt Leitch, a junior biology major, agrees that eating a lot of carbs is like a sugar high and afterwards he “burns out.”
Hyson believes that carbs are an important part of a person’s diet but there are good and bad carbs and a person needs to know the difference.
The next point is that watching TV before bed is okay but looking at a computer screen will decrease the body’s energy and confuse the body’s sleep patterns. He suggests turning the computer off one hour before bed.
Charles Bush, a junior English and communication major, believes that television is entertaining to watch, but when a person is on the computer they aren’t usually staring at the screen, they’re doing something on it, which is what makes them tired.
Eller says to eat meals at the same time everyday because a body expects food at a certain time. If a meal is skipped, the body will not have enough energy to function correctly.
Hyson said that the body needs a healthy supply of food to keep energy, otherwise it will crash.
Meditating is another way to stay energized according to Eller.
Meditating is an activity that can “decrease the stress hormones that tense your muscles and constrict your blood vessels,” as quoted from the 8-point Energy Solution article.
Whether a person takes a walk or sits by a window, it’s important to expose the body first thing in the morning.
Eller suggests getting up at the same time everyday and exposing the body to sunlight as a good source of energy.
