When you are feeling tired and are flagging, what do you do to boost your energy? A huge percentage of us run for a latte or some sort of caffeine drink, when actually what we need are natural and practical ways to energize ourselves.
Recently I shared in my blog “Did You Know Laughter Helps Boost your Energy,” how the act of laughing causes a boost in energy levels and mood. This week I’d like to talk about some additional ways you can enhance these levels as well.
The reason I’ve chosen this topic is because I’ve been hearing and seeing a lot of family and friends suffering with the problem of flagging. I’ve done some research and I would like to share my findings in hopes of helping those of you who are struggling with this issue.
4 Energy Zappers
Although, I’d like to begin by listing some of the main causes for a healthy person to have such lack of stamina:
- Dehydration – One of the first signs of the body not having enough of fluids is a feeling of fatigue.
- Lack of Movement – causes the autonomic nervous system to become lethargic.
- Staring at a screen for hours gives you tired and sandy feeling eyes.
- Being Bored
5 Natural And Practical Ideas To Help Boost Your Energy
Now that we’ve gone over some of the main zappers of your energy, let’s now look at some of the solutions to the problem. Below is a list of things you can do to boost your energy in some natural, practical ways:
- The Importance of H20 – Water is a natural resource to help rev you up both inside and out. Start your day with a cold shower, it will increase your circulation, heart rate, and oxygen intake, helping you feel more alert. During the day, keep that refreshed feeling going by stepping into the bathroom and splashing your face with some cold water. That might sound terrible right now, but you’ll thank me later. Also, keep yourself hydrated by drinking five to eight cups of water a day.
- Exercise – When we are feeling lethargic, the last thing we want to do is exercise. However, after 10 minutes you will be kicking the autonomic nervous system into gear; building up your heart rate and blood pressure which in turn improves blood flow to the body and brain.
- Using Your Imagination – Studies done by the University of Rochester showed being in nature makes us feel more alive and energetic. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible or convenient to leave your job or surroundings to take a nature walk-but fortunately, the studies found that imagining being in nature delivers a similar effect. By hanging pictures of a mountain or beach scenery in your office or room will help you achieve those feelings. If you’re not into nature, spend a minute thinking about something that is exciting to you. In doing so, it will make your brain release energy boosting endorphins too.
- Keeping Your Brain Stimulated – The nucleus accumbens is the part of your brain that mediates the emotional and motivation process. If it is not stimulated, the brain sends out signals that cause drowsiness, (according to a study in Nature Communications.) This could be one of the reasons we feel tired and bored. However, there are a variety of simple ways to fight this fatigue. Here are just a few examples: Rearrange your furniture. Sit in a different place than you normally do. Also a great way of mixing things up is alternating your everyday décor for holiday décor. If you’re anything like me, it’s not only fun doing it; it’s beneficial in stimulating your brain activity.
- Music – According to a study at Sam Houston State University, research showed that singing or just tapping your foot may cause an endorphin rush.
Starting your day off with a cold shower while singing along to your favorite song is bound to help you feel refreshed, and move you forward with a positive attitude. Don’t forget to laugh!
I hope this was helpful, and thank you for reading.
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