How to Boost Your Energy Levels Naturally - No Coffee Needed!
Do you feel tired and drained halfway into the day? Are your eyelids sagging as the day wears on? Are you finding it increasingly difficult concentrating on tasks?
Well, before you grab that cup of coffee or your favorite energy drink…think about this:
While the sugar and caffeine in energy drinks and coffee [respectively] might give you the get-up-and-go boost your body craves…that momentary high is usually followed by a crash that leaves you even more fatigued.
Sometimes, a dip in your energy levels are not easily recognizable as you don’t feel the typical exhaustion signs like muscle aches or headache. What you experience may be subtler, like growing impatient or getting easily frustrated with every little challenge.
As long as the tiredness you’re experiencing is lifestyle-related and not a symptom of something more serious, there are healthy ways to boost your energy levels, naturally.
1. Get More Sleep
Your busy schedule may be robbing you of crucial shut-eye time the body needs to fully recharge. So, every time you’re replacing sleep-time with work or some other draining activity, you’re denying your body vital rest time.
Getting less than the recommended 7 – 9 hours of sleep time can result in you feeling grumpy and lethargic, which often leads to a host of other health problems – and you don’t want that.
What to do? Take a 60-minute ‘power nap’ [you could use your lunch break] if you’re feeling exhausted halfway into the day. Studies have shown that a 60-minute power nap can help you recharge in between work. Or, if you’re having difficulty sleeping at night, you could consider mindfulness exercises to help you relax and sleep better.
2. Don’t Skip Breakfast
It’s easy to skip breakfast when your mind is set on the day’s tasks. But, missing meals [especially breakfast] has been linked with feelings of fatigue by the end of day.
On the flip side, studies have shown that people who eat breakfast regularly report being in a much better mood and have more energy throughout the day. In fact, eating breakfast soon after getting out of bed helps fuel your day.
3. Go For a Walk
Even though taking a walk when you’re feeling drained is the last thing on your mind, one study found that people who live a sedentary lifestyle and experienced persistent fatigue reduced their tiredness by about 65% just by regularly taking part in low-intensity cycling.
Going for a 10-minute walk when you’re feeling lethargic is a more effective and healthier pick-me-up than a cup of coffee.
4. Drink Lots of Water
When you urinate or sweat during the day, you lose water and therefore need to compensate for this loss by drinking enough water [whether you feel like it or not] to stay hydrated.
Studies have shown that dehydration can affect your mood, brain function and yes…energy levels.
5. Reduce Stress
According to psychologist Paul Baard, PhD -- stress is one of the biggest energy zappers. When you’re anxious, you use up a whole lot more energy, and that leads to stress.
Thing is, stress can leave you mentally and physically drained throughout the day even after a good night’s sleep.
What to do? Engage in relaxing activities like; reading an interesting book, listening to music, or any other healthy hobby that helps you loosen up.
So, there you have it!
If you’re feeling tired easily, take a look at your lifestyle right now and try any or a combination of the above tips to power up your energy levels.
Want more tips on how to boost your energy levels, naturally? Awesome! Hook up with Zuki via this wellness video, right here and don’t forget to hit the subscribe button. Did you find this piece helpful? Great! Tag us @nestednaturals and use hashtag #SleepWakeThrive -- we’d love to hear from you!