I don’t know about you, but I often find it hard to wake up in the morning or find myself slowing down as the day goes on. But I just have too much to do to deal with low energy! I need an energy boost to get me through my day and help me accomplish the myriads of things on my to-do list.
So, here are 12 things you can do to boost your energy without reaching for yet another cup of joe!
1. Morning Light
Finding it hard to get yourself to wake up in the morning? You need to give your body firm signals that it’s wake-up time! As soon as you can, upon waking up in the morning, try to get yourself a bit of sunshine. Open the shades and look out your window, or even get outside if you can. If the sun is also feeling groggy that day, you can even look at pictures of sunny scenes to help cue your mind that it’s morning time and time to get going!
2. Morning Stretch
As soon as you get up, before you even do anything else, take about a minute or two to fully stretch. That will help get the blood flowing, help you shake off the cobwebs from the night, and give you some energy to get moving with your morning routine. I like to do a basic stretch before I even get out of bed! It gets your body moving for the day and feels great!
3. 5-Minute Exercise
Feeling like you’re snoozing off at your desk or during that meeting? Instead of reaching for the coffee, try doing just 5 minutes of exercise. It doesn’t matter what you do. Just moving a bit will boost your energy and release endorphins as well. You will feel energized, happier, and maybe even ready to tackle that never-ending team meeting!
4. Eat Light Power Snacks
Not eating enough can make your energy flag, but so can eating large, carb-laden meals. Instead, opt for healthy micro-meals that combine proteins and healthy fats. Try pairing apple and natural peanut butter, carrot sticks and guacamole, or dates and almonds. You’ll get a nice energy boost without that heavy feeling!
5. Drink
Another culprit for that low-energy feeling is not hydrating enough. Make sure you keep a large water bottle on hand and keep hydrating throughout the day to help stave off exhaustion. Ice water will also help clear your head, and you can flavor your water with lemon or other natural flavors to keep you motivated to drink. Bonus: more trips to the bathroom mean built-in excuses to move around!
6. Eye Exercises
Even if you work indoors, make sure you expose your eyes to some outside views. Take a break from the computer screen for a few minutes, look out a window, and try to focus on the far-off distance. Then bring your focus closer and closer. Repeat a few times to give yourself a great eye exercise, relieve eye strain, and boost your energy with exposure to outdoor views!
7. Deep Breath
Take a few moments to just breathe. The stress throughout your day can pile up, making you feel anxious and preventing you from being your best self! Stress and anxiety are a notorious energy drain, so give yourself a few minutes of deep breathing exercises. Bonus if you can add in some meditation! Go a little zen and you’ll reap the benefits with a clearer mind and added energy!
8. Chat With a Friend
Ok, a caveat there: some friends end up being just another energy suck! However, find some time to chat with a friend who radiates positivity and good cheer, or make a pact with a friend to spend some only happy-talk time. The positive engagements will increase your serotonin, helping you feel energized and ready to tackle that next item on your to-do list!
9. Listen to Music
Take out those headphones, and turn up the volume! Get some high-energy, pumping music going, and you’ll feel your energy pick right up! You know which playlists always motivate you and keep you going. So tune in, and you’ll see your mojo turn up! Extra points for singing along!
10. Power Nap
Well, it might seem like an obvious solution, but sometimes we forget it! The reason you may be feeling tired might be… because you are tired! We often simply don’t get enough sleep, and the best cure for lack of sleep is – you guessed it – sleep! A long nap might make you feel groggy (and who has time for one, anyhow?), but a short power nap (no more than 30 minutes) might be just the ticket to help you feel rested and rejuvenated.
11. Take Your Vitamins
Our bodies are fine-tuned machines. Making sure we have everything we need to operate perfectly is essential. Low iron is a very common culprit in making us feel tired. Make sure you take your multivitamins and speak with your doctor about which additional supplements might be a good idea for you to take to boost your energy.
12. Get Your Bloodwork Done
If you try everything you can to feel more energized and still feel tired and lethargic, definitely make sure to speak with your primary care physician. Many disorders, such as hypothyroidism or mono, make you feel exhausted and can make it very hard to get through the day. Listen to your body’s warning signals and go get a blood test so you can rule out or address any conditions that may need your attention.
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