When it comes to energy, college students run low. 

For a full-time college student, who works a part-time job, it may be difficult to function on low sleep, high stress levels and lack of interest. 

If you find yourself only getting a few hours of sleep each night, you may turn to coffee or sugar to combat your loss, when in reality, the effects of those alternatives only make a slight difference and do not last long. 

With an increase of iron and magnesium in your dietary routine, you will find yourself with more energy than before. Some foods with high levels of these minerals include avocados, bananas, nuts/seeds, dark leafy greens, fish and more. 

You may also be losing even more sleep due to a hormone called melatonin. This hormone lets us know our bodies are ready to sleep. 

Too much light in your bedroom can effect this process, in turn costing you sleep. It is best to reduce light exposure to our bodies within the last 30 minutes prior to your bedtime.  

Fluorescent lights, from your laptop, TV or smartphone, are the worst at interrupting melatonin production.  

With lack of sleep comes ample amounts of stress. Luckily, there are many ways to combat it. 

Try to move throughout your day in a slower pace. Stress can be caused by having too many things on your plate. It is important to make time for what needs to be done, but you also have to take time for yourself. 

You can de-stress by listening to your favorite music, calling your mom, watching stand-up comedy or just by taking a couple minutes to breathe. 

People react to stress differently, so do not take your stress out on someone, or take someone else’s stress personally; we are all humans after all. 

One last method to combating low energy, is exercise. Exercise not only keeps your body healthy, but it gives you endorphins. 

Endorphins are another type of hormone that “activate the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect” according to Google search. In layman’s terms, endorphins make you happy.