If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It’s lethal. Paolo Coelho
One of the most common complaints I hear from my coaching clients is that they don’t have enough time during the day for everything they want to achieve. Now, obviously we can’t create more time but I do believe we can manipulate time somewhat.
When you study top achievers and high performing people, they all have 24 hours in a day just like everyone else – yet they achieve a lot more. The question is, how do they do that? I believe the issue is not so much the amount of time they have, but rather what they do with the time they have. A different way of putting it is, they get more out of the time they have than the average Joe. So, the next question is, how do they do that?
Well, personally I believe there are many factors that contribute to this, but the one standout factor is no doubt the ability to focus their energy towards their outcomes. Whereas most of us use our energy on things that are of little or no value, most high performing people use their energy on things that actually move the needle in their life or business.
So, what can we learn from this and what changes can we make to also get more from the time we have?
Here’s what I think – we need to learn better ways for creating the energy needed to achieve the goals we want. In this post I want to share 7 natural strategies for boosting your energy. These are natural methods that will help you feel better all over and increase your energy levels dramatically over time. But like anything in life, we need to give it time and effort. You don’t expect bigger biceps or a firm bootie after just one training session in the gym. Many of us have become so reliant on artificial things to lift our energy levels and moods, like coffee, energy drinks, pills and supplements, that our bodies aren’t used to creating the energy that we need naturally and healthily anymore. We need to turn that around and condition ourselves again to create the energy we need, through natural strategies.
In the long run, you will feel better for it and it will be more lasting.
Try these healthy, natural energy-boosters:
- Exercise. It may be difficult to stay motivated and exercise while you’re tired. However, the energy boost you will receive can last for a long period of time.
- Exercise increases your heart rate and blood flow, so your body is able to get more nutrients and oxygen. This has a direct impact on your energy levels, and you begin to feel more animated.
- Vigorous and intense exercise isn’t necessary (even though they’re great and effective) to boost energy levels. You can benefit from slower and calmer types of exercises, too, such as walking and yoga. If you live in a place with nice, safe or popular trails, go for a walk first thing in the morning. You’d also be surprised how doing something like skipping rope (in case you don’t have much room or time) can energise you.
- Eat more whole foods. Foods like vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruits can help you raise your energy levels in a natural way.
- Health experts recommend avoiding energy drinks and bars because they’re considered a second-rate choice compared to whole foods. Focus on eating whole fruits, grains, vegetables, and other items.
- Check your calorie intake, especially if you’re on a low-calorie diet. If you’re not getting enough calories during the day to sustain your lifestyle, then you’ll feel tired. It’s important to evaluate your food intake and keep a diary to ensure you’re eating enough. Conversely, eating too much and constantly can leave you feeling lethargic also.
- Laughing can bring you a sudden boost of energy.
- Do you have an online video that always makes you laugh? Can you text a mate who is always ready to share a joke? YouTube is a great resource. Just avoid “browser-blackout” and lose hours watching video after video. That will defeat the purpose. Just watch something funny first thing in the morning and give yourself the kick start you need.
- Add small breaks to your day. Working without breaks can lead to fatigue.
- Short breaks scattered throughout your day can help you fight stress and reenergise. These breaks can last a few minutes or 10 minutes. They should leave you feeling calmer and more energised. We are more productive with short intervals of rest than without. The myth of go-go-go without stop all the time for better productivity is exactly that, a myth.
- Avoid negative people. If you’re surrounded by negative people, you’re more likely to suffer from stress and fatigue. It is called Emotional Contagion – the idea that emotions are contagious just like a cold. We transfer our emotional states onto people around us, and vice versa.
- Studies show that your body’s reaction to the stress response can leave you feeling drained. Negative people can make your stress levels go up, so it’s important to surround yourself with positive people who don’t make you tired. The Law of Association states that we become like the people we surround ourselves with. In the self-help world there is a rule of thumb that we typically become the average of the five people we spent most of our time with. Make sure that those five people are conducive for achieving your goals and outcomes in life and business.
- Take a nap. Napping may seem like a counterintuitive idea, but researchers have found it can help increase energy levels. Short naps can help you feel refreshed and empowered to take on new challenges.
- Research from the National Institutes of Mental Health reveals that taking a short nap can help your brain and body recover from stress and other activities. Short typically means 10 to 20 minutes. In addition, when taking a short Power nap, try sitting slightly upright as this will give you all the benefits minus the temptation to fall into a deep sleep. Btw, naps won’t help that much if you’re not getting enough sleep at night anyway. We need to 7-8 hours of deep sleep to function properly over the long run, and even stay healthier and younger for longer.
- Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol. Water can help you prevent dehydration and fatigue. One of the best tips I’ve ever learned in my life is having water first thing in the morning. Thinking about it logically, your body would be in need of hydration after 6 to 8 hours of sleep and no water consumption. However, when caffeine (a substance that dehydrates further) is your first drink in the morning yet the effects only last for a little while before you need another cuppa as fatigue returns, this might explain why.
- In light of this it’s important to note that nutritionists have found that even the beginning stages of dehydration can leave you feeling tired and weak. Therefore, it’s important to drink water throughout the day and ensure you’re getting enough.
- Furthermore and caffeine aside, alcohol can also contribute to fatigue, so you may want to avoid excess consumption and on a regular basis.
- Alcohol can mess with your normal sleep schedule and make it more difficult for you to get a good night’s sleep. This can lead to more fatigue in the morning and feelings of weakness. Needless to say, alcohol first thing in the morning is obviously not a great idea. And if you do crave a glass of wine or beer first thing in the morning, you might have a bigger issue on your hands and might want to consider seeking out help. Just saying.
Natural energising methods and strategies can help you increase your energy levels without relying artificial substances. This is the only sustaining way for creating long term high energy levels.
I encourage you to rethink some of your habits and how they might be impacting your energy levels throughout the day. Maybe your issue is not so much time management, but rather energy management. I have found that without the appropriate levels of energy, competency and good intentions don’t matter that much. Without energy you can’t put any of it into practice. So, for me managing my energy is vital for achieving any goals I have for today. I’m guessing it will be the same for you.
So try some of these natural strategies for energising yourself and I would love to hear from you.
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This post was previously published on therelationshipguy.com.
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