Tips to Increase Your Energy Level
On a scale of 1 to 10, how high would you rate your energy level on a daily basis?
For many mothers, because of their multiple roles, energy levels can often fall leaving them irritable, exhausted and overwhelmed. If you are feeling drained and exhausted, it only stands to reason that your coping abilities will also be affected. When we are feeling at our best it is much easier to meet and deal with the challenges of our day.
So how do we find time in our already full day to keep our energy level up and our coping abilities at a maximum?
Here are 5 simple tips that will take your level up a notch or two:
1. Fill your tank with optimum fuel. - Nutrition plays a huge role in your energy yet many people continue to make unhealthy choices on a regular basis. Eating frequent, smaller nutritional meals are the best way to keep energy levels high and your mood stable. Eat every 2-3 hours starting with a nutritious breakfast. It can jumpstart your day. Increase your fruit, vegetables, and fiber choices while decreasing foods high in sugar and fat. Stay well hydrated, increasing your water intake to 6-8 glasses a day.
2. Get enough sleep. Easier said than done you might be thinking. For Moms, depending on the ages of their kids, sleep can be unpredictable and inconsistent. Proper sleep is needed however in order for you to meet your daily demands. To do this, take short naps(less than 30 minutes) if necessary to catch up on your required sleep. If you wake up in the morning feeling exhausted, really make a commitment to getting to bed earlier at night. Turn off the TV and go to sleep instead. Develop a relaxing ritual prior to bedtime that will help relax and induce sleep. For example, a warm bath, herbal tea in your favorite mug or 15 minutes from your favorite book. If you are operating on less that 6-8 hours on a consistent basis, your moods and health can be affected.
3. Exercise. I cannot address energy levels without talking about exercise. As you may have read before in many of my articles, I am a huge advocate of exercise. If you are not doing some form of it, you are missing out on one of the best ways to dramatically improve your health and well-being. Start small with something manageable like 15-20 minute walks on your lunch or break. Exercise can improve your mood and increase your energy level immediately. Don’t however exercise right before bedtime as it can affect your ability to be able to get to sleep. If you make a habit of doing it in the day or earlier in the evening though, it will actually improve your sleep at night.
4. Decrease daily demands if possible. Ask yourself if there are any demands on your time that you may be able to eliminate or decrease. Often we get involved in activities that end up increasing our stress level resulting in draining our energy at the same time. Is their something you can eliminate? Do you need to start saying NO to more demands on your time? Can you cut back on any of your present responsibilities at work or home? Can you ask someone else to help? Ask yourself what is the affect that these demands are having on your present lifestyle? If it is bringing you more pain than pleasure, it may be time to make some changes.
5. Time for relaxation. Because of the busyness of our lives, it is more important than ever to make time for relaxation and rejuvenation. That can be anything from a 10 minute chat with a friend who energizes you, a 30 minute walk in the park or some deep breathing exercises before you start your day. You know by the way you feel what activities rejuvenate and revive you. Make time for these things on a regular basis.
As you can see, many of the things that can be done to improve your health and well-being are all about choices and decisions we make on a daily basis. Make a decision TODAY to live your best life. Our lives are not somewhere out there in the future. Everything can not always wait until tomorrow or when the kids get bigger or when I have more free time or when I get a new job. Our lives are made up of this moment. Choose wisely. It is choices we make in these moments that will write the script of our lives.
