Time

It seems like I can't find the extra time for anything these days. It's very bizarre. I am very organized and keep my schedule very orderly. Yet, somehow, I find myself falling into bed at the end of the day- every day.

This is me by 3pm. I workout in the morning and eat a large breakfast and lunch. I don't drink coffee or soda. I drink decaf green tea. Is this a sugar crash or am I just tired from being up since 5:30am? Answer- who knows, probably need to re-evaluate my diet. Let's look into ways to boost energy during the day. Here is an article from webMD.

What if we told you your lagging energy level has little or nothing to do with your super busy schedule? Read on to discover the real reasons you're dragging, plus simple energy solutions.

(For the full explanation go to WebMD!)

● Your body's thirsty.
● You crave carbs.
● You're skipping meals.
● You're not getting the nutrients you need.
● You're watching too much TV.
● You're not getting enough daylight.
● You obsess over everything.
● You're glued to your cell phone or pager.
● You've got a lot of lingering to-do's.
● You've got sinus problems.
● Your guy snores.
● You've got undiagnosed heart disease.
● You're mildly anemic.
● You're hypothyroid.
● You've got restless legs syndrome (RLS).
● Your meds are knocking you out.
● You've got diabetes.

What to Do

1. Go for a walk.
"Less than 25 percent of my female patients get enough exercise to feel energized," says Ann Kulze, M.D., author of Dr. Ann's 10 Step Diet. Aim for 30 minutes of activity, five days a week.

2. Snack on nuts, not sweets.
Sugary snacks cause blood sugar levels to spike, then crash, leaving you wiped out, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers (fibroandfatigue.com). But the protein in nuts digests slowly for lasting energy.

3. Pop a mint.
The smell of mint ups alertness by stimulating your trigeminal nerve, "the same nerve that's activated by smelling salts," says Alan Hirsch, M.D., director of Chicago's Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation.

4. Give yourself a massage.
Massage your ears for 15 to 30 seconds, suggests Teitelbaum. This stimulates energizing acupuncture points for a quick mental boost.

5. Have a banana.
Bananas provide potassium, a mineral key to converting blood sugar into energy, says ob/gyn Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom.

6. Sip green tea.
It contains caffeine (a stimulant) and theanine, which calms you while leaving your mind clear.

7. Take a hike.
Observing nature's beauty can relieve energy-zapping stress. Studies suggest that workers who have views of nature have fewer stress-related symptoms.

8. Avoid "energy vampires."
You know, like that friend who calls twice a day just to grumble? "These people wear you out with their constant complaining," says Judith Orloff, M.D. So set limits. For instance, tell your friend you can talk for only five minutes, then end the call when her time is up.

9. Take a power nap.
A Harvard study found that a 30-minute midday nap prevented energy from flagging further, while an hour-long nap actually boosted energy and performance.

10. Do a mini-meditation.
Sit in a quiet place, take slow, deep breaths, and concentrate on a pleasing memory. Within three minutes, you should feel calmer and more energized.

 

 

Hopefully after taking some of this advice I will soon look like this instead!