It’s difficult to stay energized throughout the day. When so much is expected of you, it’s no wonder that you may be seeking various methods to keep yourself pumped up.
You might start with an innocent cup of coffee, only to realize that down the road you need several cups to get you going and then some more to keep you going throughout the day. Then, when you try to stop, you get plagued with awful headaches.
Most energy drinks are unnatural and addicting. They’re usually packed with sugar, too. When you drink them, you get that “sugar high,” only to be followed by the inevitable crash. Then you need something else to pick you up. It’s a frustrating cycle that repeats itself every day.
Your best bet is to turn to natural ways to increase your energy. By incorporating some simple strategies into your daily routine, you’ll soon notice that you’re waking up feeling refreshed and your natural energy keeps you going even on your busiest days.
Try some of the following ways to increase your energy naturally:
1. Exercise in the morning. Getting up early to exercise might sound dreadful. After all, you know how tired you feel in the morning and the idea of getting up even earlier and doing physical activity just seems downright insane. It’s true that the first few mornings will be tough, and you may even feel like giving up altogether. But force yourself to give it a try.
* Even if you go in kicking and screaming, it’s likely that within a week you’ll actually find yourself enjoying it! You’ll crave that movement in the morning and it’ll fill you with much more energy than a cup of coffee.
2. Yoga. Yoga is an all-natural energy booster that’s been around since ancient times. It’s a series of stretches and body movements that you can practice at any time of day. Even if you enter a yoga session tense and stressed, you’ll exit feeling calm, relaxed, and energized. See if you can find a local yoga class, or for a lower cost option, buy a yoga DVD.
3. Choose herbal supplements. Herbs are all natural ways of boosting energy. With herbs, you’ll never have to turn to the help of synthetic drugs. You can add herbs as ingredients in your foods or take them separately in supplement form.
* Ginseng is a popular choice that helps with many functions, including boosting energy.
* Cayenne can improve heart health as well as helping with energy levels.
4. Avoid crash foods. Your diet is extremely important when it comes to how you feel throughout the day. Some foods may increase your energy initially, but then they cause you to crash in the end. Anything with high sugar content will cause this roller coaster effect.
* Shoot for eating things that are known for maintaining your energy throughout the day, such as foods that are high in protein.
5. Get enough sleep. A necessary amount of sleep will be different from person to person, but most people need 6-8 hours of sound sleep for the best results. Not getting enough sleep is a huge factor in low energy levels.
6. Eat your breakfast. It’s true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but unfortunately, it’s the most popular one to skip. You may think that if you’re not particularly hungry that it’s better to skip this meal so you can eat more calories later. However, such thoughts play havoc with both your metabolism and your energy levels.
* When you skip breakfast, it sends your body into a natural starvation mode where it consumes muscle mass to continue its normal processes. The small amount of energy you receive is at the expense of your muscles and other important functions!
* On the other hand, when you eat breakfast, you’ll feel more alert and energized and give your body the necessary fuel for the beginning of the day.
Bringing these strategies into your regular daily routine will enable you to feel more energized throughout the day. If using all of them entails too much of a lifestyle change, simply add them one by one. Sooner than you think, you’ll be enjoying the benefits of an unending source of natural energy: YOU!
