If you’ve been feeling tired, drained or sluggish lately and are wanting to know how to boost energy levels, here are 5 all-natural lifestyle tips that you can start to implement straightaway to reverse the trend:
Prioritize Sleep
Unhealthy sleeping habits can impact your brain performance, moods, as well as energy levels, as your body isn’t getting the amount of rest it needs to regulate body functions optimally. Sleepless and/or late nights can start to leave you feeling fatigued and moody very quickly.
Aim to get about 6 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Set a reminder on your clock, if needed, to help you maintain a consistent schedule so that your body gets used to falling asleep at a specific time. Sleeping well, and on time daily, means you wake up feeling that much more refreshed and energized, and ready to start your day. Also, remember to switch off electronic devices as the EMF (electromagnetic field) generated by the devices can impact the way you sleep.
Stay Hydrated
Something as simple as not being adequately hydrated can severely impact the way you function on a day to day basis. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink water because by then your body will have already lost a lot of fluid. Given that your body comprises about 50-60% water, lack of hydration causes your body to work harder with its limited resources to perform basic metabolic functions like breathing, thinking, moving as well as elimination via sweat and urine.
Aim to drink at least 1 to 2 liters of water daily. Carry a bottle of water with you everywhere so you remember to fill up. If you don’t enjoy water, consider flavoring it with lemon, peach, cucumber or orange slices. Alternatively, consider fresh fruit and vegetable juices or soups.
Avoid an Excess of Alcohol, Fats, and Sugar
An excess of alcohol, fats, and sugar are all harmful to the body over the long term. Alcohol and sugar can cause sudden spikes and dips in sugar levels which leave you feeling fatigued in the aftermath. Low GI (Glycaemic Index) foods such as whole grains, nuts, and lean proteins are the preferred natural energy boosters as they release energy slowly leaving you with stable energy levels through the day, provided you eat small portions every few hours. Aim to maintain a healthy body weight as fat accumulation in the body can also cause fatigue.
Manage Your Diet
Eat small healthy meals about 4 to 5 times a day – 3 main meals and 2 snacks. Your meals should be a combination of unrefined carbohydrates, protein, vegetables, and fruits. Incorporate as many raw vegetables and fruits as is possible into your diet so that you benefit from the energy boost released by fresh, natural food. Avoid reheating leftovers and fast food as these hardly have any nutrients left and therefore contribute very little by way of energy or nutrition.
Exercise Daily and Reduce Stress
Stress takes up a lot in terms of energy and can leave you feeling very drained. Manage stress effectively by having a good support system in the form of family and friends, having enough outdoor or social activities to keep you engaged, and exercising daily. Exercise fights fatigue, reduces fat, makes you feel more positive and helps you feel more energetic. If you haven’t exercised in a while, start by walking for 20 minutes a day and gradually increase.
Knowing how to boost energy naturally should be a no-brainer with these 5 tips. Implement them today to start seeing immediate improvements in how energetic you feel!
These 5 tips will show you how to boost energy naturally through diet, sleep, water, and fitness. Start using them today to see improvements in your energy level.
