If you’re feeling lethargic and lack energy throughout the day, more often than not, seeing a difference in your life will mean examining your habits and making changes. These 5 habits that will boost your energy levels would be the answer. Millions of people all over the world are in a funk and they have no idea how to get out of it. We are creatures of habit. The results you see and feel in your life are a result of your habits. Good habits are not easy to form and take time to master, but if you can manage it, the rewards are plenty. Let’s look at 5 habits that you can inculcate to boost your energy levels.
1. Sleep well
Ideally, you should get 7 to 8 hours of good sleep daily. That will mean going to bed at the same time every single day and waking up at the same time. It doesn’t matter if it’s a public holiday or a weekend. Your sleep schedule stays the same.
Your bedroom should only be for sleeping. Do not work or watch TV in there. Keep digital and electronic devices out of the room. By only sleeping in your bedroom, your brain will associate it with sleeping and not other activities.
Your bed should be soft and comfortable but provide enough support for your body. A comfortable bed and pillow are prerequisites for good sleep.
The room should also be dark and cool. Try and use blackout curtains to shut out as much light as possible. Avoid using mobile devices such as your phone and laptops at least 2 hours before bedtime. The screens on these devices emit a blue light that confuses your body and makes it think it’s day time.
As for keeping the room cool, you can either use a fan or an air conditioner. Whatever the case, you shouldn’t be sweating in bed.
Avoid caffeine after 2 pm. It has been shown to interfere with sleeping for many people. You should not eat 2 hours before bedtime. The digestive process consumes energy. When you go to bed, you do not want the body to be working on your digestion. It needs to rest.
This is the MOST basic of all the habits. Doing this alone will help millions of people boost their energy levels.
2. Clean up your diet
You are what you eat. Eating clean wholesome foods will mean that your body burns the fuel with a ‘cleaner flame’. If you’re consuming too much sugar, chemicals, additives, etc. your liver will be working overtime to remove these toxins from your body. It goes without saying that you should avoid processed foods, sugar, additives, etc. and just stick to natural wholesome foods such as fruit, vegetables and lean meat.
It’s next to impossible to feel your best if the food you eat is sub-par. Consume more vegetables and fruit. Get rid of the processed foods and only indulge in them occasionally.
One of the best ways to boost your energy levels is to adopt intermittent fasting method. With this method, your day is split into two windows – the eating window and the fasting window. Following the intermittent fasting method, you will discover that you have much more energy. You’ll not be starving yourself because you’re still getting the calories you need. You’re just eating in a different way. Thousands of people who have tried intermittent fasting swear by it. Their health has improved, and they feel much more energetic.
3. Declutter
Stop having too many unfinished tasks and unnecessary items in your life. Your energy is finite. If you spread it out over too many tasks, you’ll feel drained. Throw away what you do not need and only focus on tasks that are actually beneficial.
If you’re at work, learn to say ‘no’, if your colleagues are trying to push off their work on to you. Only handle what you can. The fewer tasks you have, the more energy you’ll have.
If your work is deadline-driven, make sure you take short breaks often. Do not feel guilty about this because these breaks will not only keep you healthy but will also help improve the quality of your work.
If it’s never-ending text messages or calls that bother you, create a phone schedule. Set aside a couple of hours a day to answer all messages and return calls (if they’re personal ones).
Meanwhile, check your phone once every half-hour to make sure you’re not missing anything important. Attend to the important messages first and leave the rest for later. This takes discipline, but your body and your mind will thank you for it.
4. Stay hydrated
It’s very easy to be dehydrated without even knowing it. People often confuse hunger with thirst. They often fail to realize that they’re feeling tired because the body lacks water. Drink sufficient water throughout the day.
Water is the vehicle which delivers nutrients to all parts of the body. If you tend to drink very little water, not all your organs will receive what they need to remain healthy. If you’re feeling extra-tired and your mind is not as sharp and clear as it normally is, try increasing your water intake.
Start with the regular prescribed 6-8 glasses. Remember that it has to be water and not fluids in general – coffee and tea can actually contribute to dehydration. While it doesn’t mean you can’t drink them – you just need to ensure that your daily water intake is adequate. Sodas are loaded with sugar so it’s best to avoid those altogether.
5. Relieve stress
Stress saps your mental and physical energy. In our hectic lives, it slowly creeps up on us without our knowledge. We have more convenience now and everything is almost instant, and yet, as a people, we’re more stressed-out than ever before.
To boost your energy levels, try and center yourself and become an oasis of peace in a frantic world.
Alternatively, you can do things that you find fun. Watch that movie, take that trip, have a laugh, try something you’ve always wanted to and so on. All these fun activities will give your mind and soul a respite from the stresses of day to day life.
Why do you think people feel ‘lighter’ and happier when they’re on a holiday? They always seem to have more energy and life. When the holiday comes to an end, suddenly their energy dissipates, and they sink into the doldrums.
It’s stress or the expectation of stress from the mundane life that they’ve become accustomed to. Relieve your stress at frequent intervals.
Apply these 5 habits that will boost your energy levels in your life and you’ll notice that over time, your energy levels soar, and you feel much better and full of life. That’s how you want to live.
Disclaimer: This website is written by a regular human. I am not a Health Professional. Please get professional medical advice for your specific health needs.