Five Ways to Boost Your Mental Energy

The next time you're feeling depleted or drained, restore and renew with these research-based tips from Emma Seppala, PhD, a leading expert on the science of health, happiness and success and author of The Happiness Track.

Don’t overschedule, overcommit, or wait until the last minute to get things done. This taxes the body and can lead to burnout.

Listen to your body and treat it well. Give your body the rest it needs to feel rejuvenated. Avoid high-caffeine drinks to boost your energy-you'll only feel more tired when it wears off.

Alternate high and low-intensity tasks. Focusing too long on a demanding task-like preparing for an important presentation-drains your mental energy. Work for an hour on the challenging project. Then, work on something easier for an hour before returning to the more difficult task. This gives your brain time to rest. It also helps boost creativity.

Take breathing breaks. Stress and strong emotions, such as anger, deplete energy. Take slow, deep breaths to conserve energy and settle yourself down. Breathing intentionally can calm a rapid heartbeat and lower your blood pressure in minutes.

Go for a walk outside with nothing else demanding your attention. Walking boosts well-being and eases stress and anxiety, but not if you're texting or checking email. So, leave your devices behind. You don’t have to walk for very long to give yourself a mental boost.

Article provided by the Student Support Program. Franklin University offers free 24/7 counseling to all students and their spouses or domestic partners. Click here to learn more.