6 Easy Ways to Re-energize (Cathryn Harper)

You know your body runs on energy, right? Well, just like your exotic racecar, when you're out of fuel, or when you put the wrong fuel in, things don't run so well. And, if you haven't maintained things like you should, there could be a performance drag, or worse, even failure.

So, what are you waiting for? Your body, just like that gorgeous car, needs attention in order to keep going. But, you say, you're tired? You can't take the time to address that fuel problem or those performance issues just now? You might be surprised at how easy some of this kind of maintenance is.
Breathing - Most of us don't get enough oxygen for a big part of the day, barely breathing in and out without taking so much as one deep breath. Every hour or so, get up, reach for the sky, and take about five long, slow, deep breaths through the nose, exhaling through the mouth. Ahhhhh. Feels good, right? What? Did you hear something? That was your body saying thank you.

Limit caffeine - Most of us reach for the caffeine in the morning to jumpstart our systems, but it is a quick fix that, in just a short time, sends our systems crashing, makes us cranky, or worse yet, keeps us from getting enough sleep. Give yourself a week off of the java and see what happens. You might be surprised how much it actually zaps from you.

Choose the right snacks - Hit the wall at work? It might be late afternoon, and you're feeling slow and tired, so you reach for some sugar. Well, guess what? In an hour, that sugar will be metabolized, and you, my friend, will again feel tired and sleepy. If you really need to appease your sweet tooth, choose something with a little fiber attached, like fruit. Added bonus: no weird artificial flavors or colors.

Find the right sleep rhythm - Just no energy all day long? You might not be getting enough sleep. Everyone has dances to their own internal circadian rhythms, but if you're not getting enough sleep, it's probably stealing your thunder by day. Experiment with different doses and note how you feel the next day. Also, the average sleep cycle, going from REM sleep and non REM sleep, lasts for approximately 90 minutes. Waking during the middle of a cycle can sometimes make you tired all day. Try setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier or later to see if you hit on the right timing, hitting just at the end of a sleep cycle, and waking refreshed and energy ready.

Eat a balanced diet - You can shovel in a boatload of fast food calories and still be tired. Yes, your body needs fuel, but filling it up with fat laden calories, full of energy zapping ingredients and little nourishment just doesn't work. Do a little due diligence with regard to diet, and see if you can't find some foods that you like that will give you the vitamins and nutrients you need to make it through the day with energy to spare.

Stay hydrated - Make sure you're drinking enough water throughout the day. That doesn't mean you need to have a water bottle strapped to your hip. Just listen to your body. When it says its thirsty, get up, walk to the water fountain, and take a good, long drink. Soda doesn't count. Actually, it counts against you, so stick to water.

That's the top six, but there are a few other things you might want to tackle if you still feel sapped of energy after making these changes. If you're under a boatload of stress, find a way to mitigate it through activities like meditation, yoga, Pilates, fishing, bike riding, whatever; just get out there and forget your cares for a while. Also, avoid things that bring you down emotionally. Toxic people can rub off on you, too, dragging you down. Try to disengage from those personality types and stay positive! Consider some of these suggestions, and prepare to be energized.

Cathryn is a working mother of three. A self-professed health and fitness nut, Cathryn loves to research and write about health and wellness related topics. Click here "Ways to Re-energize" to read more relted aticles.

You know your body runs on energy, right? Well, just like your exotic racecar, when you're out of fuel, or when you put the wrong fuel in, things don't run so well. And, if you haven't maintained things like you should, there could be a performance drag, or worse, even failure.

So, what are you waiting for? Your body, just like that gorgeous car, needs attention in order to keep going. But, you say, you're tired? You can't take the time to address that fuel problem or those performance issues just now? You might be surprised at how easy some of this kind of maintenance is.
Breathing - Most of us don't get enough oxygen for a big part of the day, barely breathing in and out without taking so much as one deep breath. Every hour or so, get up, reach for the sky, and take about five long, slow, deep breaths through the nose, exhaling through the mouth. Ahhhhh. Feels good, right? What? Did you hear something? That was your body saying thank you.

Limit caffeine - Most of us reach for the caffeine in the morning to jumpstart our systems, but it is a quick fix that, in just a short time, sends our systems crashing, makes us cranky, or worse yet, keeps us from getting enough sleep. Give yourself a week off of the java and see what happens. You might be surprised how much it actually zaps from you.

Choose the right snacks - Hit the wall at work? It might be late afternoon, and you're feeling slow and tired, so you reach for some sugar. Well, guess what? In an hour, that sugar will be metabolized, and you, my friend, will again feel tired and sleepy. If you really need to appease your sweet tooth, choose something with a little fiber attached, like fruit. Added bonus: no weird artificial flavors or colors.

Find the right sleep rhythm - Just no energy all day long? You might not be getting enough sleep. Everyone has dances to their own internal circadian rhythms, but if you're not getting enough sleep, it's probably stealing your thunder by day. Experiment with different doses and note how you feel the next day. Also, the average sleep cycle, going from REM sleep and non REM sleep, lasts for approximately 90 minutes. Waking during the middle of a cycle can sometimes make you tired all day. Try setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier or later to see if you hit on the right timing, hitting just at the end of a sleep cycle, and waking refreshed and energy ready.

Eat a balanced diet - You can shovel in a boatload of fast food calories and still be tired. Yes, your body needs fuel, but filling it up with fat laden calories, full of energy zapping ingredients and little nourishment just doesn't work. Do a little due diligence with regard to diet, and see if you can't find some foods that you like that will give you the vitamins and nutrients you need to make it through the day with energy to spare.

Stay hydrated - Make sure you're drinking enough water throughout the day. That doesn't mean you need to have a water bottle strapped to your hip. Just listen to your body. When it says its thirsty, get up, walk to the water fountain, and take a good, long drink. Soda doesn't count. Actually, it counts against you, so stick to water.

That's the top six, but there are a few other things you might want to tackle if you still feel sapped of energy after making these changes. If you're under a boatload of stress, find a way to mitigate it through activities like meditation, yoga, Pilates, fishing, bike riding, whatever; just get out there and forget your cares for a while. Also, avoid things that bring you down emotionally. Toxic people can rub off on you, too, dragging you down. Try to disengage from those personality types and stay positive! Consider some of these suggestions, and prepare to be energized.

Cathryn is a working mother of three. A self-professed health and fitness nut, Cathryn loves to research and write about health and wellness related topics. Click here "Ways to Re-energize" to read more relted aticles.