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Do you struggle to wake up in the morning? Does your energy lag as you go throughout your work day? Do you sometimes feel like you’re constantly running on empty? If so, you’re not alone. Energy is a huge struggle for many of us because our are lives aren’t in balance. If you need some more get-up-and-go throughout the day, try these five tips for lasting energy:
#1. Wake Up Right
If you want to feel good throughout the day, you’ll need to start it on the right foot. Waking up in the morning is the perfect time to empower yourself by committing to a positive attitude. If you use your first bit of conscious mind power to list out everything you’re grateful for, you’ll stay in that appreciative space as the day goes on. Likewise, if you wake up bitter about your lot in life, you’re more likely to have an unpleasant day.
#2. Bathe in Natural Light
Most people head straight for the coffee maker after crawling from bed. But exposing your eyes to natural light is a much better way to wake yourself up. Try sitting outside for a few minutes post-slumber. Remain until your eyes adjust to the bright light.
Not only is this a great way to wake up, but it will also reset your body’s circadian rhythms, helping your entire system remain in a healthier balance all day long.
#3. Skip the Coffee
It’s likely that you may be among the 83 percent of Americans who rely on a cup of coffee to get going in the morning. Coffee has its health benefits, but the energy boost it gives us is coffee’s greatest selling point. However, that energy comes with a price.
What goes up must also come down. Giving your body an unnatural energy spike every morning means an energy crash later on. This leaves us with no other option but to drink more coffee or suffer through the energy lag after lunch.
It’s understandable if you don’t want to give up your coffee. If you choose to continue embracing your daily boost, try drinking a small cup after lunch rather than with breakfast. It will break the morning habit and power you through the rest of your day. However, afternoon coffee can interfere with sleep, so pay careful attention to how you feel.
#4. Give Yourself with a Steady Supply of Nutrients
We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While it’s true that a great breakfast can provide energy, keeping that energy going requires a steady supply of nutrition. Instead of eating three big meals each day, focus on smaller doses of nutrition. Healthy snacks like dried bonito flakes, fresh fruit, kale chips, and raw organic almonds can help keep you satisfied between meals without weighing you down.
#5. Focus on Protein
High-carb diets of refined grains, flour, and sugar tend to spike your blood sugar, which leads to energy crashes later. According to research from the University of Illinois, women who reduced their carbs and ate more protein reported they had more energy throughout the day. That said, try focusing on the following:
- Consume organic, grass-fed beef, organically raised chicken, and oily fish like salmon.
- Don’t avoid fat! Healthy fat, that is. They’re essential to a healthy, energy-filled life. Read more about the importance of fat and your health in “The Banting ‘High Fat’ Diet: Fad or Fact?” by Dustin Strong.
- Take whole food supplements to correct any deficiencies. See a holistic health care practitioner in your area to find out what supplements you need to correct them.
For more invaluable information on the importance of supplements, check out Why Your Doctor Offers Nutritional Supplements by Stephanie Selene Anderson. And to learn all about dietary guidelines that will keep you healthy and energized, snag a copy of Healthy 4 Life from the Weston A. Price Foundation.
It isn’t easy to change your lifestyle. If you choose to implement these tips, be sure to go slowly. Trying one thing at a time will allow you to see what works for you.
Image from iStock/BERKO85.
