Put down the coffee! We know you don’t want to live a tired, lethargic life.
We know you want to relive your youth, going back to the days when you had energy to spare.
But let’s face it, coffee isn’t doing that for you.
Wondering how to feel more energized, Instead of downing endless cups of joe and hoping for a burst of energy, try these 10 all-natural energy boosters to give you the zap of energy you need to get through your midday slump.
1. Eat a Balanced Breakfast
Mornings can be rushed, but don’t forget about your first and most important meal of the day.
Your breakfast will set the stage for the rest of the day and will get your metabolism up and moving. Make it balanced, though — don’t just chomp carby cereal. Incorporate fruits, vegetables and grains.
Reach for the items with fiber that will keep your body working longer to digest.
2. Take Cold Showers
If you want to relax, you dip into a warm bath or step into a hot shower. If you’re seeking the opposite — you’re looking for a jolt — cold showers are the trick. The change in temperature will accelerate blood circulation as your body tries to keep its organs warm.
Essentially, it leaps into a fully alerted survival mode, trying to protect your innards from freezing. It may be unpleasant at first, but it will make you feel alert, alive and energized!
3. Stay Hydrated
Water is essential to our survival. Not surprisingly, then, when we don’t have enough of it, we’re lethargic.
It’s been shown that athletes experience worsened performance when dehydrated, and the same logically follows for those completing day-to-day activities.
Put your body in an ideal state to avoid depleted energy: drink enough water (if your urine is dark, you need more!).
4. Get Up and Move Around
You may think that exercise drains you of energy, that it will only leave you feeling more fatigued. Well, that’s not true. Even low-intensity exercises — just getting up and pacing the room — can give you an energy boost.
“Contrary to popular belief,” says nutritionist Samantha Heller, MS, RD, “exercising doesn’t make you tired — it literally creates energy in your body. Your body rises up to meet the challenge for more energy by becoming stronger.”
5. Interact With Others Face-to-Face
When we feel tired, we often forego plans involving others, choosing instead to stay in and be alone. This is exactly what we shouldn’t do.
Humans are social creatures. We strive for connection, for understanding. When we’re tired, we should go out, talk, listen and laugh with our friends and family — extraversion will make us feel happier and more alive.
6. Reach for Natural Foods
When it comes to an energy-boosting diet, you want stuff that came from the earth, or close to it; eat more real food. As in, you should be eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and lean protein.
These items aren’t loaded with processed junk, or additives only present to boost flavor. No, these natural go-tos are filled solely with energy and nutrition– things that will provide full-blown fuel to your body and mind.
Because they’re more complex (with higher fiber and protein content) and harder to digest, the body will produce more energy to break them down. Meanwhile, you reap all the benefits.
7. Turn Up the Tunes
Fast-paced music can take your mood from static to ecstatic. While classical music can put you to sleep, high-intensity jams can do just the opposite.
Certain music has been shown to enhance the performances of athletes, giving them more energy and more drive to keep going. Associated with music, of course, is also the act of dancing — and we’ve already covered the energizing benefits of exercise.
8. Drink Natural Tea Blends
Don’t reach for a third coffee. Instead, opt for some loose-leaf tea when you need a kick.
There are a number of blends that provide natural energy and won’t give you the shakes like your regular cup of joe.
Ginseng-infused blends rejuvenate naturally and safely, and they can even improve exercise performance, for example.
9. Reduce or Eliminate Alcohol Consumption
Small amounts of alcohol have minimal effects on the body, but the effects are still there.
When people consume more than “small amounts,” (anything over a single drink, really) the body and mind become impaired. Words become slurred and alcohol lingers in the bloodstream.
So despite our culture’s comfort with drinking, alcohol is, at the end of the day, a toxin that drains you of energy and inhibitions. To be your most energetic self, you should remove it from day-to-day life.
10. Go Outside
Studies show that getting fresh air makes people feel more alive. This greater sense of vitality, in turn, leaves individuals more energized. Outdoor settings are said to fend off feelings off exhaustion, and even recalling memories in nature can boost happiness and health.
Follow these energizing practices in your waking hours, while logging enough sleep (at least seven hours, generally), and you’ll be set to take on the world — and not feel tired while doing it!~
