These 10 natural energy boosters will keep your engine humming throughout the day:
Staying hydrated is one way to boost energy, but you don’t need to reach for caffeine. Here are natural energy boosters, some as simple as drinking a glass of water or sprinting up a flight of stairs. These 10 natural energy boosters will keep your engine humming throughout the day:
Eat an apple
Apples contain natural sugars, which your body can turn into energy. An apple will have the same effect as a cup of coffee without the side effect of an energy crash.
Do five or more push-ups
It may seem counterintuitive to exert energy when you are already tired but it’s amazing what a couple of push-ups will do for you if you have low energy. Push-ups get your blood circulating through your body. Your blood brings oxygen to your brain and your tissues, making you more alert and energetic.
Take a power nap
A power nap will help you feel refreshed. Between 15 and 30 minutes is best just enough to refresh your body’s systems.
Have a cup of green tea
One of the reasons people feel as though they have low energy is that they are really dehydrated. Staying hydrated is a natural energy booster. A cup of green tea or white tea, which is the younger plant of green tea will perk you up.
Step outside
Sunshine gives you energy because you are getting vitamin D and vitamin D can help boost your mood and mental performance. However, keep your face out of the sun and don’t bake and always protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Take just 10 to 15 minutes to step outside for some fresh air and sunshine and you’ll go back to work feeling refreshed.
Phone a friend
Social connections are another natural energy booster. Online studies have shown that people gain enormous amounts of energy from having friends, helping others and giving of themselves. If you are feeling down or have low energy, take a few minutes to call someone whose voice will perk you up. Even better, make plans to do something positive for someone else, such as volunteer at a shelter or help an elderly neighbor.
Meditate
A mini-meditation break of 5 to 10 minutes can be a great natural energy booster. Find a quiet place where you can get comfortable. Sit down and concentrate on your breathing. Clear your head and forget about your work or whatever was on your mind. After meditating, get up, stretch, and go back to whatever you were doing, feeling refreshed and more energized.
Eat high-energy foods
We are not talking power bars or energy drinks. While they can provide quick energy, they also can cause you to crash when they wear off. Instead, choose high-energy foods that have essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamins B1, B2, and B6 in particular help your body convert carbohydrates into energy. Foods rich in B vitamins that will work as pick-me-up snacks include yogurt, whole grains, and sunflower seeds. Minerals in nuts, whole grains, and dairy products also enhance energy by assisting metabolism.
Take the stairs
Like doing push-ups, a quick flight up the stairs in your office building will provide aerobic exercise and help you feel more energetic. Exercise not only helps your body function better, it also increases the amount of oxygen in your blood and causes your heart to beat faster, which increases blood flow to your muscles and back to your lungs. Exercise also releases endorphins, hormone-like substances that promote an increased sense of well-being.
Stop multitasking
People are really doing themselves a disservice by trying to do too much at once as you are causing way too much stress on yourself and you are not able to focus as well as you could were you to give each task your undivided attention. If you do your day’s activities one at a time, you can devote more energy to each one. It will make you feel as though you have more energy overall.
