Are you dragging through the day? Or having a tough time getting out of bed in the morning? Maybe bedtime can’t come early enough for you?
Whether it’s due to a night of tossing and turning, working too many hours or eating on the run, if you find yourself feeling drained of energy, there are several things that you can do immediately that can have a positive impact.
Some of these may be tough for you to follow and others very easy, depending on your habits, but I can assure you that the more you can follow, the more energy you will feel.
1. Skipping breakfast can cause the mid-morning slump. Even if you are never hungry in the morning, bring a protein-based snack to eat mid-morning, like a hard-boiled egg, homemade trail mix or Greek yogurt.
2. Eating a sugary snack does give you a quick boost of energy. That’s why so many run to the vending machine at 3 o’clock for a candy bar. Unfortunately, your blood sugar will rise and then plummet soon after, leaving you feeling just as tired, if not worse. So instead, reach for a snack of protein and fiber to maintain blood sugar, like an apple and almond butter.
3. Even very minimal dehydration can cause fatigue and a less than energetic feeling. Drink plenty of purified water, either plain or with sliced fruit, or iced/hot herbal tea. Stay away from artificially sweetened beverages. They trick your brain into wanting more sweets.
4. Although caffeine is an instant energy booster, too much, even early in the day can affect sleep cycles. Don’t drink it past noon and remember that it’s also in tea, soda and cocoa, not just coffee. You could end up in that vicious cycle of staying awake, being tired, wanting caffeine…
5. When your energy is low, the last thing you feel like doing is exercising, but even 10 minutes of walking around the office, or better yet, outside if weather permitting, will boost your energy considerably. After a few minutes, it releases endorphins, giving you more energy. But too much exercise or too late in the day is counterproductive.
6. Stress drains energy just as fast as a night of no sleep, so tap into your relaxing ritual if you suspect stress is draining you. Read, take a warm Epsom salt bath, meditate, listen to music, do yoga, talk to a caring friend or whatever soothes your soul.
7. And lastly, but maybe most importantly, fuel your body with natural, whole foods. Stock up on fruits and veggies, lean meats and poultry, salmon and other fish, legumes, nuts and seeds, whole grains, healthy fats like olive oil and avocados and if you can tolerate dairy, some low-fat cheese and Greek yogurt.
Our energy goes down when we stop making ourselves a priority. Self-care is so very important to not only feeling good, but maintaining our health. And the biggest perk, besides added energy, is that you look younger. At 58, I want to feel healthy, energetic and look good. How about you?