How to Have More Energy

We’ve all been there. The alarm goes off and all you want to do is sleep. A mid-morning slump has you staring through the computer screen, desperately trying to stay focused and on target to meet your deadlines.­ The afternoon comes and you don’t know how you are going to make it until 5 p.m. After a busy commute, it feels like you are racing against the clock to make dinner and get yourself and the kids ready for the next day. Sometimes it feels like you just can’t keep up because your energy levels are so depleted. But here’s the good news: You aren’t doomed to years of yawning. Here are three things you can do to boost your energy and meet life’s busy demands:

Get Enough Sleep
You’ve heard it time and again, we know. But getting enough shuteye is pertinent to keeping energized all day long. If you’re not getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night, as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation, you may be sabotaging your daytime energy. Get into a good sleep pattern of unwinding at the same time every night and rising on schedule every morning. If you have a difficult time falling asleep, make sure that your bedroom temperature is not higher than 67 degrees, that there are no disruptive lights or sounds and that you are using a comfortable pillow and mattress. Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine, especially in the hours before bedtime. Lastly, be sure to get some daily exercise in, which not only helps your body rest, but is also another way to increase your energy levels.

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Exercise
Speaking of exercise… Regular activity helps to ward off fatigue and supports healthy energy levels. Inactivity may make you feel like exercising is just too much work. But, countless studies show that even a little bit of extra activity will do wonders for your energy. Take a walk, do a couple of yoga poses or turn housecleaning into a sweat session! Just get moving and you will start to feel a bit more energized.

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Eat
Budget time every morning to have a bite to eat. If you are crunched for time, prepare healthy breakfasts that you can grab and take with you on the go. Or check out Nutrisystem’s delicious ready-to-eat options. Then, be sure to eat at least every four hours to prevent your blood sugar from spiking and stay hydrated throughout the day with lots of water. Incorporate more fiber and healthy fats into your diet, and limit your sugar, high-glycemic carb and caffeine consumption. Be sure to keep these high-energy foods in your healthy eating arsenal: nuts, especially almonds, walnuts and pistachios; salmon; peanut butter; popcorn; fruits like apples, bananas, strawberries and pineapple; sweet potatoes; kale and spinach; oatmeal; and hummus.