Do you often feel tired? Having trouble getting out of bed in the morning? So do I. That made me begin looking for natural ways of boosting my energy. I was grabbing a coffee or a Coke, or something sugary, only to find that while I got an energy boost, I still had a difficult time focusing, followed by a crash. Most of these are solutions that we all know about, but have a tendency to ignore (looking for a quick fix).
Here are a few ways to boost your energy
1) Get Eight Hours of Sleep
In order to get most out of your day, we recommend to get at least eight hours of sleep. When you sleep, your body is restoring your muscles and your energy. Not sleeping enough can leave you feeling tired, but you are also more susceptible to viruses or infections. Having a good night’s sleep is definitely recommended to avoid all these problems,
2) Magnesium
A great fatigue fighter is magnesium, so trying to incorporate this mineral in your diet will be beneficial for your energy levels. But where do you find magnesium? Great sources of magnesium are: almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, whole grains and fish. So check out these foods to add some extra magnesium in your energy boosting diet! I take a magnesium supplement at night (it also helps with my leg cramping issues).
3) Exercise
Exercise may seem like something that would take away your energy, but it is actually quite the opposite! People that do not exercise regularly, will feel more lethargic and tired. A good exercise to boost your energy levels is walking. However, you do not have to go on an hour walk to boost your energy, because a brisk ten minute walk will make a big difference for your energy levels.
4) The Power Nap
When you have an extremely busy day and find your energy slowly fading, you can always have a power nap during the day. The trick to a power nap is sleeping for 60 minutes, but not longer. Take into account that sleeping for longer than 60 minutes will seriously reduce your energy, so try sticking to an hour if you do require a power nap during the day. NOTE: I have NEVER been able to do this. I am jealous of those who can grab a quick few Zzzz’s.
5) Have Breakfast
The most important reason why many people lack energy is the fact that they skip breakfast! However, breakfast is an extremely important because your body needs the fuel to function properly. Recent studies have also shown that skipping breakfast will lead to feelings of fatigue throughout the day. This means that having breakfast is that much more important.
6) Get Rid of Stress and Anger
Your emotions can also influence your energy levels. Stress, anger and anxiety are the main reasons for a reduced energy level, so it is recommended to stay away from those feelings as much as you can. If you are experiencing problems with stress, anger and anxiety, it may be a good idea to do some regular relaxation exercises. A five minute relaxation exercise can make the difference between energized or fatigued.
7) Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is another great fatigue detergent. A cool glass of water can bring back some of that energy you have lost! Also try to avoid alcohol and drink water instead, because alcohol can leave you feeling tired.
8) Eat Less Sugar
Many people believe that eating more sugar will boost their energy levels, but it is actually quite the opposite. Eating or drinking something with high levels of sugar will give you a temporary boost of energy through an increase of blood sugar. However, this will be followed by a drop in blood sugar that can make you feel exhausted!
9) Protein
Adding protein to your diet can also provide you with more energy. A good source of protein can be found in some power snacks, for example a treat with protein, a small amount of fat and fiber.
10) Avoid Caffeine
Even though caffeine can give you an energy boost, it can seriously influence your sleeping pattern. The chance of needing caffeine to get through the day also gets higher, because you are sleeping less. So avoid caffeine to get those energy levels up!
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