6 Ways to Boost Your Energy
We’re all familiar with the energy drain when you’re feeling exhausted at 10 a.m., sluggish after that 3 p.m. meeting or even after a good night’s sleep. Sometimes, even an enticing thought like dinner out with friends, a refreshing walk in the park or a glass of wine after a long day is not enough of an incentive to get your body up and running.
This happens even to the best of us at the worst possible times such as when you need all the energy you can muster to beat assignment deadlines, or even get you through the day with your kids yelling out for you at every opportunity.
As a stay-at-home mom, I feel tired at the worst possible times. More so, I am chronically tired. This is sometimes caused by lack of sleep, overworking and much as I hate to admit it, bad diet.
If, like me, you’d like to boost your energy and boost your productivity, here are a few tips on how you can do it.
Obey Your Thirst
When you’re dehydrated, you will find that your energy levels, (and your mood), take a hike. According to health experts, you should try to stay hydrated when you’re thirsty (I know, it’s a no brainer!). When you’re thirsty, even your urine speaks to you. It gets darker, which means you need to drink more water. However, water just may not hit the spot and you may decide to pick a bottle of 5- hour ENERGY. It’s also important to note that certain foods and medications can change your urine color so, in this event, you will need to rely on your body to tell you if you need to get hydrated.
Limit Your Sleep
I know, sleep would probably be the first thing on your mind if your energy levels are low, you’re fatigued or even sleep-deprived. But, trust me, this works. When you regulate the number of hours you sleep and consciously set time aside, you eventually end up falling asleep easily and this process promotes relaxed and undisturbed sleeping patterns. Here’s how you limit your sleep:
- Stop napping during the day if you can.
- If you’re already sleeping well, gradually add the hours you sleep on consecutive nights.
Eat With Purpose
By all means, eat to your fill and eat as often as you need to, but watch what you’re eating. Try to snack on foods with a low glycemic index such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, eggs, and bananas. These foods contain sugars that are slowly absorbed into your body and will release energy into your body gradually.
Foods that are protein and fat packed may have very low glycemic indexes. Other energy giving foods include nuts, fruits like avocado, whole grains, veggies with high-fiber content, and oils such as olive oil. Stay away from high-carb foods like white bread and short-grain rice.
Stop day drinking
Much as it’s tempting to reach out for a glass of wine after a delicious lunch to aid in your digestion, or in the hopes that it’ll rev you up for your next wash load, don’t give in to the urge. This also applies to after-work cocktails if you’re hoping to have some energy left to work on your project later in the evening.
Alcohol has sedative effects and as such, may induce lethargy and make you less productive at college, home or work.
Have A Shot of Caffeine
I love my shots of caffeine hot and with a dash of cream. Caffeine drinkers have something to celebrate. Researchers claim that people who consume up to three cups of coffee a day get several benefits, such as lowering the likelihood of Alzheimer’s and even greatly reducing the risk of certain oral cancers.
Because it contains caffeine, a stimulant, coffee has been known to reduce feelings of fatigue and tiredness. Many energy drinks, including 5-hour ENERGY, contain some amounts of caffeine.
Stop Overworking
Overworking is usually the first cause of fatigue. This may happen when you don’t have a clear list of priorities. When this happens, you end up doing a lot in your day with no roadmap of which activity ranks top in importance or urgency. When you have a to-do-list, you’re able to do the most important tasks first and put the rest aside when you’re tired.