3 Ways to Boost Your Energy
We live in a fast-paced stressful world. Many people are overworked, over-stressed, and have a hard time finding the energy that they need to keep going.
Here are a few tips to help you boost your energy level:
1 Get Enough Sleep…DUH
When there is a lot to do and not enough time to do it, many people start to cut down on the hours of sleep that they get each night. This is a big mistake if you want to maintain high energy. If you can’t possibly get at least 7 hours of sleep a night, try taking a 15 minute powernap.
2 Breathe
Chances are you are reading this article because you work long hours and need to reduce stress in your life. One of the best steps you can take to immediately boost your energy is to simply breathe. It is interesting to note that in Chinese medicine, qi (“chi”), is considered to be the “life-force” and is closely tied to the concept of breath. One of the ways that qi is generated in the body is by breathing deeply.
Sit upright to open up your diaphragm and breathe deeply for 5 minutes. Focus on filling your lungs to capacity slowly and releasing each breath slowly. It is surprising how quickly this will improve your energy level and calm your nerves.
3 Focus on foods that improve energy levels
Have you ever desperately needed energy and turned to a sugary drink or candy bar to get the boost that you need, only to crash a little while later with less energy than before? This probably sounds familiar. It is the most common side-effect of turning to excess sugar for a short-term energy boost.
Avoid excess sugar – For a true sustained boost in energy you need to avoid excess sugar, particularly high-fructose corn syrup, which is added to a surprising number of products to make them more palatable.
Focus on Protein – Insufficient protein is a common cause of fatigue. One excellent way to improve your protein intake is to use a good Whey Protein supplement. Whey Protein is an all-natural byproduct of dairy so it is easy to digest. The isolate variety has 90% protein content, so it is a very cost-effective supplement. It is low in calories and high in protein, the perfect combination for a daily energy boost.
Not enough water – Get back to the basics. Low energy levels are very often attributed to not drinking enough water.
Multivitamins – A good multivitamin is an excellent source of B vitamins, which have been shown to help in reducing stress.