Awake to a blaring alarm, drop the kids off at school, go to work. We’ve all felt physically drained at some point in time, especially after successfully completing a full day at our work, in order to get the job done. And, why wouldn’t we? After all, we are not a robot that is capable of taking on piles and piles of chores, without feeling its impact. But, with the help of these three suggestions, you can greatly boost your energy level the next time you feel a slump, because you still have to be “on” at home.
Recharge and Reinvigorate
1. You literally may have hours to go before your head can hit the pillow, for a restful night’s sleep. But, who said snacking in between meals is a bad thing? In fact, if you let yourself get too hungry between meals, your blood sugar plummets and can cause you to become lethargic. You can help your blood sugar and energy level by eating snacks; but not just any snacks, picking the right ones can prevent dips and spikes, as the day progresses.
What are beneficial snacks? Veggies with hummus, yogurt with fruit and mixed nuts. Just get a little creative when it comes to your snacking options, try blueberries with a cheese stick, pears with almond butter and a whey protein shake, too. The idea is to mix complex carbohydrates with a protein and/or fat, thereby providing lasting energy. The protein and fat slow the breakdown of sugar into the blood, which in turn prevents fatigue.
2. By now this tip may be second nature, but drink plenty of water every day. It’s been proven that up to 60 percent of the human adult body is water. What’s more, water serves a number of essential functions to keep us going. Being hydrated is one of the best ways to increase energy levels. Though the media tends to pump ads into our heads, you will be just fine without consuming sports drinks and vitamin water. Why? They can become quite expensive over time and they add unwanted calories, which eventually can make a difference in your waist line. To naturally spice things up a bit just add oranges, lemons or limes.
3. Up for a little exercise? It’s true, that while it may seem as if moving about when you feel exhausted is the quickest way to feeling even more exhausted, the exact opposite is true. Experts believe that increasing physical activity, particularly that of walking, can increase your energy level.
Says Rita Redberg, MD, science advisor to the American Heart Association’s “Choose To Move” program, “I like walking because it’s accessible, easy to do, doesn’t need training or equipment and you can do it anywhere.”
Still don’t have enough energy to get yourself moving for that power walk? In experiments conducted by Robert Thayer, PhD, at California State University, a brisk 10-minute walk not only increased energy, but the effects lasted for up to two hours. And, when the daily 10-minute walks resumed for three weeks, overall energy levels and mood were lifted, as well.
A Method to the Madness
Alas! You can now say “goodbye” to your low energy level and “hello” to getting more accomplished throughout the day. With so many things on your plate, why wouldn’t you want to give yourself a much-needed boost?
Web Links:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/26/health/healthy-energy;
http://women.webmd.com/features/10-energy-boosters?page=3;
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html
-Kimberly Williams
[KWLMS] 