We all need energy to accomplish tasks at work and the activities that we enjoy. There are plenty of pills and potions that tout an ability to increase your energy levels, but they may not be natural. This can cause drastic health problems. There are ways to increase your energy levels naturally!
1. Drink Water
When your body gets dehydrated, it can leave you feeling drained. Don’t worry about following the “eight glasses a day” recommendation. However, you do want to drink enough to keep you body hydrated. A good indicator of dehydration is dark colored urine. If your urine is light-colored, it is unlikely that you are dehydrated.
Drink water when you are thirsty. Aim to have a drink of water every few hours.
2. Get Moving
Exercise invigorates the body. It is a natural energy booster. As you exercise, oxygen-rich blood circulates to your heart, muscles and brain. Schedule regular exercise into your day even if it is only 10 minutes at a time. This will keep your energy levels high.
Stand up and move around whenever you have the chance. Find an excuse to leave your desk and run an errand or use the restroom. You’ll come back to work a bit more energized and focused.
3. Get Sunshine
The sun provides us with vitamin D. It has been shown to enhance your mood, memory and your own ability to absorb new information. Sunshine also has been known to improve self-esteem.
Get outside on your lunch break and walk around a bit. You’ll feel better in the natural environment, your body will create the much-needed vitamin D, and you’ll get energized.
4. Reduce Stress
Stress can result from busy lifestyles. It typically manifests in anxious thoughts, overwhelmed feelings and an inability to concentrate. Feeling stressed is also linked to tiredness.
You may not be able to completely remove sources of stress, but you can minimize lifestyle stress. Take some time for yourself to relax, read or go for a walk.
Mindfulness and meditation techniques also help to combat stress. Many people report feeling more energized after yoga or meditation.
5. Eat a Nutritious Diet
Foods will deplete your energy levels. While your body does need fuel to keep going, many of our modern foods deplete the nutrients in our bodies because they are deficient in nutrition.
Select whole, nutritious foods, such as meat, vegetables and fruits. Avoid eating processed foods and foods high in sugar. These will affect your energy levels.
Try not to skip meals as this may cause you to miss out on necessary nutrients.
6. Avoid Sugar
It is always tempting to indulge in the donuts that your co-worker brought as a treat. However, that treat will deplete your magnesium levels and zap your energy. The short-term energy boost wears off fast.
Foods high in sugar spike your blood sugar. The body then needs to release large amounts of insulin to bring the blood sugar back down.
The blood sugar spike is what creates the rush of energy. It is followed by a slump of energy because your body needs to use its magnesium reserves to process the sugar.
Large amounts of sugar also put you at risk for diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Therefore, it is good for everyone to avoid too much sugar.
7. Supplement with Magnesium
Modern agriculture has depleted soils of the essential element, magnesium. Most Americans are magnesium deficient. When you have a magnesium deficiency, your heart beats faster. It requires more energy to get things done.
A deficiency in magnesium will leave you feeling physically exhausted most of the time. One natural source of magnesium is fish. Eating more fish can help you address your magnesium deficiency.
Other methods of countering a magnesium deficiency include taking Epsom salt baths, supplementing with 350 milligrams per day, and eating organic vegetables.
8.
Meditate
Yoga is a great way to reduce fatigue. The Savasana pose (also known as the corpse pose) is highly beneficial in eliminating fatigue. Savasana pose is usually done at the end of a yoga session. It looks like a quiet nap on the floor. However, you are conscious and restoring your energy.
As you lay awake and conscious, focus on slowing down your breathing. Make sure that you are allowing the air to flow in and out of your nasal passages. (See Buteyko Breathing technique)
These methods of increasing your energy levels can be incorporated throughout the day to ensure that you have high energy levels. None of them take up too much time or money, so you can start incorporating these energy boosters today!