Dear Fred,

Alas, you are discovering why so many professionals are loathe to work with college students -- so many refuse to get their act together and take decisive action when it's needed.  It's a fast-paced world out there and many students refuse to take part in it.

This is a volunteer job.  If these lazy teens and early-twentysomethings are causing you such distress, then it's time to move on.  Keep volunteering -- just do so with a more responsible, active crowd.

-- M

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Dear Patty,

Your frustration is understandable, especially if someone new is being brought on board in lieu of you receiving a deserved raise.  As hard as it is, you must relax, and figure out how to use these new circumstances to your advantage.

Pool your resources together with the new woman to ensure more clients for you both.

Split the load of undesirable tasks laid upon the trainers.

And stick up for yourself -- don't do anything you don't feel comfortable doing (like giving up clients you've already begun training).

-- M

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Dear Ashley,

My poor poppet, as Dr. Laurie would say, "You have to be your own, fiercest advocate!"  If you're extremely low on energy, enlist the help of friends and family.

Forget your perception -- call the doctor's office and succinctly explain your misery.  See if they have an emergency slot you can slide into today or tomorrow (many doctors secretly keep slots open just for this reason).

If not, get yourself to an urgent care center -- Promptcare and Medcheck are popular here in the Midwest, though names vary region to region.  Find them in the phone book, online, or by asking your doctor's office and local hospital.

As long as you're miserable, you won't be able to concentrate on anything else.  Be brave and take control of the situation.

-- M

Dear Ryan,

In all honesty, I feel the same way every winter.  Something about the dreary skies and bone-chilling weather ... it zaps my spirit.  (Perhaps in that stimulus bill I can find some funds to relocate to warmer environs.)

You could be affected by the seasons.  If you feel sad or depressed, too, I would suggest talking to your doctor about Seasonal Affective Disorder.

With the dry heat of indoors and probable lack of physical activity, you may be dehydrated.  Remember, you should be drinking just as much pure water a day now as you do in the summertime.

And you may not be getting enough quality sleep.  Recent studies in the news have reiterated that the average American adult requires a minimum seven hours of sleep per night to maintain good health and energy.  Experiment with different settings (e.g. thick curtains blocking out all noise and light, using a white noise machine, setting the sleep timer on the TV, etc.) to try and sleep better.

-- M

Dear Todd,

You, my friend, have the Band-Aid Syndrome.  You've been dreaming for so long about the possibilities of what may happen if you broach this subject with him that you've grown terrified of the potential (and perhaps nonexistent) pain involved.

Rip off the Band-Aid!

Call up your friend and ask him if he wants to grab lunch sometime.  While you're eating and chatting, gauge his interest.  Maybe he's been flirting with you this whole time, but you were too nervous to notice.

And maybe he's not interested, but would like to be platonic friends.  Whichever the case, you'll have vanquished this overwhelming weight hanging over you.

-- M