Positive Charge: Put the Bounce Back In Your Step with These Energy-Boosting Tips

Feeling a little sluggish lately? Perhaps it’s time for you to boost your energy back to the level it once was. Staying healthy is crucial and taking good care of your health requires constant attention. Various studies have indicated that physical activities have the ability to reduce stress and anxiety as well as decrease the risks of getting diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. There’s good news for folks with a particular need – exercising could improve your sexual performance.

So every now and then when we get that feeling of being tired all the time, some simple energy-boosting tips have been put together for you to follow. The list has been made with health-conscious people in mind, so if you are one of those who believe in all things healthy and natural instead of relying on caffeine and sugar for an energy boost, you can practise any of the below to recharge:

Drink Plenty of water

Being dehydrated is one of the major reasons why your energy is sapped. That being said, even slight dehydration of 1 or 2% of your body weight can make you feel tired. If you feel thirsty, take that as a clear sign that your body is dehydrated. Dehydration might lead to dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue and other symptoms. So remember to drink as much water as you possibly can. To make it easier, just stick to the “8 glasses per day” rule.

Carbohydrates should be embraced

Carbs should always be embraced rather than avoided, as done by so many who see it as “the evil among all the food categories”. One of the main reasons why carbs are so important for us is that they provide us with the much-needed energy to power us through the day. Carbs release energy slowly into your body to keep you going for longer.

Nibble as frequently as possible

Maintaining a normal blood sugar level is important. In order to do so, you have to eat every few hours but don’t take the opportunity to indulge in your favourite fattening snack. Just a light, simple and balanced meal will help you maintain your muscle tissues, which burn more calories than fat tissues while putting the much-needed skip inyour step.

Get adequate sleep

The human body typically needs 8 hours of sleep to recharge and fully rejuvenate. Since most people usually get only between 5-6 hours of sleep per day, the body becomes less alert which then leads to lowered stamina. Also, a recent study by Chicago Medical School revealed that those who slept less than 8 hours a day are twice more likely to suffer from a stroke, heart attack or congestive heart failure. However, don’t think that sleeping a lot is good for you either. The same study concluded that those who slept more than 8 hours are at more risk of developing chest pains and coronary artery disease. So what you need is 8 hours of restful sleep per night, nothing more and nothing less.

Avoid quick fixes

It is a complete myth that sugary snacks will give you an energy boost when you’re tired. In fact, sugar actually makes things worse. The body wastes copious amounts of energy converting sugar into energy, leaving you more drained than before as your blood sugar now as it imbalances. On top of that, the energy produced is just a short-lived boost. Ditch the chocolate bar for some fresh fruits or whole grain products whenever you feel your energy levels are running low.

Get active by exercising

Exercising is the best and most effective way of becoming energised. Your heart will pump furiously to cope with the demands for oxygen in your lungs and organs and your metabolism will increase. It isn’t just your body that feels good after an exercise; your mind benefits as well from the endorphins released. You’d feel the same feel-good sensation that you’d get from eating chocolate or having sex. That’s why endorphins, which are the hormones released by the brain whenever it senses feelings of happiness, are always referred to as the ‘happy hormones’.

Flush out nonsense

We ingest a variety of things as we go about our daily lives. There is junk food or fried food and then there are pollutants from the environment. All these deposit toxins in our bodies which can make us depressed, lethargic, bloated and ill too in the long run. It is good to flush these toxins out of our bodies every now and then. There are many detox plans available in the market but the best is perhaps the most natural way–fruits. Certain fruits such as cranberries and pomegranates have better detoxifying properties than the rest, so add these to your diet as a good way of flushing toxins out.

Laugh out loud!

LOL is incredibly good especially for your spirit but only if you do it physically instead of in an SMS or online chat! Laughter can lift up your spirit faster than the strike of lightning. Laughter is undoubtedly the best energiser because laughter generates chemicals in the blood that boost well-being. It is amazing how much laughter can change your mood instantaneously even if you are feeling down in the dumps. Find a joke or a stand-up comedy to watch online every day, enjoy a good, hearty laugh and increase your energy levels as well as your feeling of happiness. The jokes you’ve heard can even serve as a good topic to share during conversations, provided that you know how to relay the joke, of course.

Yoga your way

Rather than just sit at the dining table enjoying your breakfast while reading the papers, why not add 10 to 15 minutes of yoga to your morning routine. This is guaranteed to speed up your metabolism and it also has the potential to stretch every muscle in your body. You’d be fully awake by the end of the session, which is a great way to bring a burst of energy to your mornings.

Never ever skip breakfast

As the word suggests, the word ‘breakfast’ literally means “to break a fast”. Your body can’t shift into full gear when it hasn’t had fuel. Eating food high in fat and sugar or skipping breakfast will leave you feeling lethargic all day. You don’t need a heavy or elaborate breakfast; just some cut fruits will do. Plan ahead, cut up some fruits the night before and you can have them right away the next morning just like that or added to cereal or made into a rich smoothie. If you are more hardworking, you can make a batch of muffins to get you through the week’s mornings. Homemade goodies are always full of healthier ingredients such as raisins and nuts, and are free from colouring and preservatives too. Whatever it is you decide to have for breakfast, make sure your breakfast isn’t too high in sugar or calories.

If you’re low on energy, it will definitely be difficult for you to concentrate on your work, studies or daily tasks. Your patience will eventually run out and your level of frustration rises even if you’re only facing minor challenges. So what you need to do now is to identify which part of your life needs an energy-booster work towards it by practising the given tips religiously.