Easy Energy Boosters
Do you remember the energy you had as a child? The climb a tree, run a race with an imaginary friend, and then go swimming kind of energy. The kind of energy that had the grownups forcing you to go to bed even after a long day of playing.
Chances are, even if you can remember those glorious days of unlimited energy, you haven’t felt that way in many years.
Can you feel like a 10 year old again? Probably not but there are simple ways to boost your energy and eliminate energy zappers.
What is Energy?
According to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, energy is, “the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.” Each area of your life has the potential to give you energy or to drain your energy.
Think about the difference between how you feel on a Monday morning workday versus a quiet Saturday. Unless you have your dream job, there is a good chance that your energy levels are very different on the weekend.
Have you ever zoomed through a weekend project without eating or checking the clock? This is when your energy is at its peak. On the other hand, have you ever stood in the DMV line for 10 minutes and thought is was 10 hours.
A person cannot control every situation but seeking out activities that make you feel alive and energized will leave you with more energy in the long run.
Creating Energy
Boosting energy is a little different for everyone. It’s important to keep the idea of “bioindividuality" in mind when working on creating energy for yourself.
Bioindividuality simply means everyone is different, and what nourishes one person may harm another person. For example, avocados are one the world’s “super foods.” While they’re high in nutrition and loaded with “good fats,” they’re not so super for me. I have a sensitivity to them. I get an itchy mouth and sometimes feel nauseated after eating them. They’re super for many people, they’re not super at all for me.
As we go through some ideas for increasing your energy, keep your own needs in mind. Let’s start with food!
Eating for Energy
Foods and drinks are the basic building blocks of the body and greatly impact energy. When it comes to foods, we can make some generalization. There are foods and there are food-like products. We need REAL foods to create energy.
Lucky Charms (a food like product) might give you a quick energy boost in the morning but a couple of hours later you’ll be reaching for the coffee pot. On the other hand, eggs, fruit, and a complex carbohydrate will keep your body energized for a good portion of the day.
If nature didn’t create what you’re eating, your body doesn’t know what to do with it. Energy comes from eating unprocessed or minimally processed whole foods.
Lifestyle and Energy
How you spend your time and who you spend it with has a huge impact on your energy levels. Have you heard the term “energy vampire.” This refers to people who are constantly negative or overly needy. The minute you’re around them you feel your energy draining away. Choose who you spend your time with wisely.
This includes the workplace. Working with abusive co-workers or an unreasonable boss has a huge impact on not only your energy but also on your immune system. If your job is giving you the Sunday blues every week, it might be time to start job hunting.
At the same time, humans are social by nature, don’t isolate yourself. To boost energy, seek out positive people who you enjoy spending time with. This will improve your immune system and keep you happier.
Even better, get moving with these upbeat friends. Being sedentary creates a ton of health problems, including feeling low on energy. Moving your body creates energy. Walk, run, or play on the merry-go-round. Whatever you do, get moving.
Keep What Works
There’s no doubt that most people could use more energy.
To have the best energy possible, move your body regularly, eat real, whole foods, and seek out the situations and people that give you energy. Skip the vampires and have some fun.
Finding your personal recipe for creating energy will take some experimentation. Start with the basics and then fine-tune for yourself. If something isn’t working, get rid of it and try something else.
Share what’s working for you in the comments below.