My top 6 strategies to boost your energy naturally!
“Exhausted and overspent!” This was how a working mom of 2 and fellow entrepreneur recently described how she is feeling these days on one of the social media platforms. Can you relate to that feeling? I know I can.
Every day we have to figure out how to work, cook, clean, home school, entertain and sometimes referee our kids! It’s draining.
With all that’s happening in the world and our struggle juggling multiple priorities It’s easy to allow our well-being to sink to the bottom of our priority list.
We neglect ourselves.
No wonder we are overwhelmed, tired, and sometimes feeling like everything is falling apart.
We are running on fumes.
So what can we do to improve our situation? One commenter said “lower your expectations!”. Great advice. This isn’t the time to strive for perfection. This is the time to be kind, starting with ourselves, and to take baby steps towards feeling more energized, healthier, optimistic.
Here are my top 6 strategies that will boost your energy naturally so you can tackle the day without feeling overspent or exhausted.
Get more sleep.
Are you a night owl that stays late to catch up on work or watch tv even though you have to get up early the next morning?
Poor sleep (or poor sleep habits) do not let your body really rest, discharge tensions and recharge. It won’t only affect your appearance, but also your immune system, focus, even eating patterns/cravings the next day.
Read my blog post on tips to improve your sleep: Fall into Healthy Habits.
Fuel your body with the right foods.
Yes, we are busy, but for the love of what is sacred to you don’t skip meals.
Our bodies need whole, nutritious food to work at an optimal level.
Get your lean proteins, whole grains, high-fiber vegetables, nuts, and healthy oils. And reduce processed foods as they mess up our blood sugar levels.
And one more thing, a salad for lunch is a good starter but does not make a main dish. I see a lot of people trying to lose weight, cutting calories the wrong way. Please be mindful of this. You cut protein and you are left feeling tired and ‘hangry’.
Exercise
You might be thinking...I don’t have time, I’m too tired, too out of shape.
Here is the thing: exercise increases blood flow and oxygen in the body, and by doing so it provides you with a boost of energy. It also increases brain dopamine levels, which helps elevate your mood. On top of that, exercise can also help you sleep better! It’s a win-win situation.
If you need ideas how to get exercise into your daily routine, check out this blog post: 4 Strategies to Help You Move More.
Stay Hydrated
One of the common signs of dehydration? Fatigue. We are 55-60% water, every organ needs it to function properly. Aim for 2 litres of water a day. Other things that hydrate you: fruits and vegetables, herbal teas, soups.
Are you relying on coffee for energy? While moderate caffeine consumption is safe, we may find ourselves depending on too much coffee to get on with our day, experiencing headaches, being constantly irritable, anxious and not having a good quality sleep. Read more about it here: How Much Coffee is Too Much
Get outside
The fresh air combined with movement will help improve digestion, relieve stress and make you feel better. Also the sunlight helps keep your serotonin levels up, raising your energy and keeping your mood calm, positive, and focused.
Manage your stress
Journaling, for example, is a great stress management and self-exploration tool. Proven to be stress relieving especially when focus on gratitude or emotional processing. You don’t have to write much. Set aside a little quiet, undistracted time to sit down and write about your day, things you want to accomplish, your dreams, what you are grateful for and so on. This practice has been life changing for me.
Fatigue may also be a symptom of a medical condition, be sure to consult with your health care professional if you find yourself unable to carry on with your daily activities.