Things That Energize Me
Hello and welcome back to this week’s blog! Today, I’m going to talk about those things that specifically give me energy. In a previous blog, I discussed energy drainers and how to combat exhaustion, but this is a little different. Personally, I can have energy by simply having a good day, or as they say, waking up on the good side of the bed, or ingesting certain things.
Let’s start with the natural energy boosters!
Getting sleep/going to bed early: obviously this is a given when you are discussing energy. However, if you change your sleep patterns up (getting up early, sleeping in, etc…) you can end up feeling more tired. The best case scenario is to wake up at the same time every day and go to bed at the same time every single day, despite if it’s a weekend or not.
Waking up early. I always have more energy upon waking than I do at 3pm or at 7pm. I wasn’t always like that, but it’s something I learned to adjust. Plus, as you age, your sleeping patterns and requirements change.
Giving yourself relaxation time. This one is a little edgy because sometimes if you relax for too long, you don’t feel like getting back up again.
Keeping up the pace. If I know I have a super busy day ahead, as long as I keep going, I keep going. (Kind of like the energizer bunny). I keep giving myself tasks to do, but I’ll mix up the tasks. Usually I will do something hard, then give myself a menial task, etc…
Making a to-do list. Making the list doesn’t give me energy, but crossing off things on that list gives me the energy - at least the motivation to keep at it.
Showering in the morning. Sometimes a nice refreshing shower does the trick, especially if I didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before or I feel sluggish.
Water: Sometimes I experience fatigue because I’m simply dehydrated.
Food: People living in North America especially don’t have this problem, since food is so plentiful, but if you find yourself to be tired, maybe you need a small snack. Remember to try and not eat out of boredom though…it’s not the same thing! Eating healthy, small and at least two food groups together will get you out of your mid-day slump.
Now for the things that may not be so natural:
Coffee: hello! Yes! Gimme Gimme Gimme. I usually only need one. I don’t understand those people that can drink coffee all day; I would get so dehydrated. If I’m super tired in the evening, sometimes a small coffee will perk me up, but then the let-down makes me even more sluggish than before.
Energy drinks: So these are delicious! I have a problem with drinking too many of these. Yes, they definitely give you an energy boost, but it doesn't last that long. The low after a couple of hours is similar to the low of caffeine and you tend to feel more sluggish than before. They might taste delicious, but they are harmful to your stomach (I developed a severe case of gastritis which is inflammation of the stomach lining and I literally thought I was dying). They can also cause heart attacks in people more susceptible to heart problems. They also carry a lot of sugar.
B12/other vitamins or supplements: If you feel sluggish, sometimes it’s a good idea to get your blood checked. A number of years ago, I had mine done and found out that while I created B12 just fine, my body had trouble absorbing it. I don’t remember feeling tired or sluggish, but I started getting B12 injections from my doctor on a regular basis.
Thank you so much for reading about how I keep myself energized, and we’ll see you back here next week!
Sandra
