7 Ways to Get More Energy Fatigue AWAY!
Let's admit it, a lot of people don't have a lot of time throughout the day. Most of us have a lot to get done and it seems there just isn't enough hours in the day to accomplish all of our priorities. Have you been sacrificing hours of sleep in order to do so? Or guzzling ten cups of coffee a day just to keep your eyes open? If you were like me, you probably struggle everyday to keep your body up and working constantly. But pushing yourself beyond how much you can actually handle is not a wise habit. Over time you will feel more sluggish and weary as you keep pushing your boundaries. These 7 tips will help YOU replenish the much needed energy your body deserves so you can feel more lively throughout the day!
1. Eat More Healthy Foods
Maintaining a balanced diet will give you more energy from the nutrients you receive. Choosing more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds will help your body pump more power and keep you stimulated! Try eating decent amounts of vegetables every day and if you want even more juice, eat them raw! Raw fruits and vegetables have all the nutrients still in them to keep you rejuvenated. Carrots, lettuce, celery, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers are delicious raw and will provide lasting energy boosts.
Find creative ways to ingest your fruits and veggies. If you don't like your vegetables hide them in a smoothie! Spinach, kale, cabbage, romaine lettuce, carrots, and beets are perfectly hidden once thrown in a blender. Try mixing strawberries, spinach, carrots, orange juice, and ice together; it makes a delicious smoothie.
Berries are HUGE energy boosters! Especially the ones that are blue, red, or purple. Berries contain powerful antioxidants that helps boosts energy levels. Get more citrus fruits in your body too! Vitamin C not only helps give you more energy but it also helps you absorb more nutrients from food.
2. Avoid Artificial Energy
I know you know what I'm going to say. LAY OFF THE COFFEE! Drinking coffee in moderate amounts is okay but try not to become too dependent on it. Also, avoid drinking coffee after noon, it can negatively affect your natural sleep cycle. Instead try consuming some tea. Studies have shown drinking several cups of tea a day can help reduce stress, green tea especially.
Nicotine also, don't think I wasn't going to mention it. Smoking also causes sleep disorders, usually causing bitterness and frustration the next day, WHICH, leads to more smoking. Also, ex-smokers have reported to have more energy now than when they were smoking. This article pertains to energy however so I won't mention what all the risks of smoking are, so I won't say another word, except that the dangers are numbered in the kajabillions!
3. Sleep the Right Amount- No More No Less
OBVIOUSLY, DUDE. Yes everyone knows the benefits of sleep. Ever try to go a full day without sleep? You practically turn into a zombie without the bloodstains. Less sleep makes you think less effectively and your actions are often careless. But too much sleep can be detrimental to your health as well. I'm sure you have experienced this that when sleeping more than necessary you often wake up STILL tired. So its best to find out how much sleep you really need. Just sleep in one day, at the time you normally would and once you gain consciousness, get up and stay awake. The amount of sleep you got is your body's ideal rest time, so strive to get that amount of sleep every night.
If you want you could try different sleep cycles. People who have adopted polypahsic sleep cycles say they have more energy than ever.
4. Eat Smaller Meals More Often
I've never fallen asleep eating, so it makes sense to eat more often throughout the day. Eat small meals and a couple snacks for the duration of the day to keep blood sugar and energy levels stable. Large meals require more energy to digest, which can make you feel sluggish. Get enough carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats like olive oil and omega-3 and try to avoid saturated fats and trans fats. Try healthy snacks too, such as yogurt, sunflower seeds, or celery with peanut butter. This ties perfectly with keeping a balanced diet everyday, so remember to eat a variety of foods.
5. Rearrange Your Domain
Although when we usually think about energy, we think about ways to get our body moving. Little do we know how much our environment affects our energy as well. Ever heard of Feng Shui? Feng Shui is the belief that there is a constant flow of energy in the universe and that it travels through our environment and ultimately affects our own energy levels. Your home and office reflects this flow of energy through the various decorations you have, how things are positioned, the stature of materials, and the colors you use. Not only will decluttering your space help create more positive flowing energy it can also help further your goals in life.
Although Feng Shui is a pretty complex system and I won't be able to explain it all some basics to creating a better environment is that:
-Every color has a different energy. Use more vibrant colors in different areas of your home to get better energy flow.
-Avoid using artificial materials such as plastic, artificial lighting, or synthetic fibers. They create negative energy.
-CLEAR THOSE CORNERS! Dark, musty corners and cluttered rooms slow down your energy, making you feel sluggish.
-Put more of the five elements in your home, which are tree, fire, metal, water, and soil. Put some bamboo plants in green pots on desks and counters. Or some clay pots to represent soil in your living room. Fill a glass pitcher with water and set in a nice area.
6. The Art of Napping
Napping is a great way to gain energy back. Although not many people have the time to take full-fledged naps, even small power naps will work wonders for your body. But you only have ten minutes? That's fine! I usually take naps during the evening when I feel a bit drowsy. I have this amazing phone app that is a timer with an alarm and I put a gentle, soothing alarm melody to slowly bring me out of my nap. Try it! Usually 20-30 minutes does the trick for me! Napping will help you wake up more alert and productive. Not only that but taking short naps will help you gain more REM sleep, which is deep sleep in which you dream, and the kind of sleep that keeps your brain sharp. REM sleep is essential to make you feel rested and by taking short naps you will be able to sleep less every night and still feel fully rested!
7. Understanding Your Body's Internal Clock
I can not stress this concept enough! Your body, after repetitive procedures, will start to get used to them even if you aren't thinking it. In high school I began developing the nasty habit of falling asleep during 5th period. Every day. Almost the entire period. It came to be my happy time but it also reflected negatively on my work. Well obviously, you were asleep the whole time! Anyways, second quarter I transferred to a different class. Guess what? Fell asleep everyday. Second semester rolls by and I purposely change my 5th period to P.E. but come 6th period I would fall asleep. Everyday. My second year of high school rolls around and I get machine woods for my 5th period, the most easy-going class that year. Probably because I slept in that class everyday. 50 minute naps that I would look forward to everyday, and my body had become so accustomed to them that I would come in dead tired, go to sleep, and I would wake up everyday exactly 5 minutes before the bell. The next year was the same and I always felt drowsy during 5th period. Every day was a struggle because the class actually took work! I would purposely ask the teacher for bathroom breaks just to splash water on my face. Then senior year came and I thought I was smart. I elected to take a zero period in order to avoid 5th period and go home after 4th. It didn't work, I still felt drowsy everyday. It's as if my body knew how much class time I could power through before feeling tired. And by the time I came home I would take 50 minute naps.
Point is, our bodies have an internal clock that reflects the times that we feel dips and rises in energy, and so plan the times when you feel most energetic to be the times where you get the most work done. This will sync the times you have the most potential and energy with your priorities. Doing so will give you more efficiency when you need it and make you feel more relaxed and calm when you are doing less demanding work.
