Exclusive Article by Lindsey Patterson at EMRIndustry
Too often, it feels like inertia applies to just as much to our energy levels as it does in physics. Even when we do increase our energy, entropy wants to take us right back down to zero again. To have a helpful conversation about energy, we first need to ask: “What is energy?” Well, in the context of this conversation energy is our ability to do the things we want to do, live the way we want to live – unlimited by physical, mental, or emotional factors. Most of want to increase our energy, but a lot of those energy drinks and “supplements” aren’t very health-effective methods for increasing our energy. Fortunately, there are a lot of healthy things we can do to fight increase our daily energy levels. Here are a few to keep in mind
Let’s Talk about Stress
Stress is an element that drains your physical, mental, and emotional energy. There are a couple things you need to learn how to do in order to manage your stress: Learn to say no when asked to add one-thing-too-many to your to-do list. Stay organized. Many have found breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, exercise, and massages to be great ways to reduce stress. Try some activities that will let you get out of your own head for a while and focus on sensory details: cooking, listening to music, etc. Also, making time for positive social interactions will lower your stress. Everyone should have a friend with who it’s easy to de-stress with. Taking some time to do a memory game or pursue a passion will help you destress too. However, don’t let the internet or social media be your “destress break” because studies show that is one thing the internet doesn’t do very well.
Water
Start your day with a drink of water, and don’t let yourself get dehydrated later on. Dehydration is an energy drainer.
Eating
Sorry to say it, but a lot of your favorite foods might be energy drainers. Coffee, alcohol, fried foods, sugar, preservatives, white flour, etc. On the bright side there are nuts, beans, avocados, greens, fruits, and fish that do a great job of replenishing your energy. Also, make sure there is some Magnesium in your diet.
Move It!
Sitting in one place for too long, even if you are getting stuff done there, is also an energy drainer. Every ninety minutes, get up and move for two minutes. If you’re up to it, do crunches or jumping jacks. This wakes up your body so it knows not to shut down on you.
Sleep
What was that we said about entropy? When you try to live on little sleep, even if it is in the name of getting more work done, you deplete you mental, physical, and emotional energy. Get blackout curtains, a white noise machine, lavender oil, something to help you get to sleep and stay asleep.
Mental exercises
Stop a minute to think grateful thoughts. Write down information that you need to remember so your brain doesn’t have to hold onto it. Visualize and make plans for your worst-case scenarios, this may sound like it would stress you out but you will actually find that, since you’ve already visualized it, disappointments won’t stress you out at much. This way you “saw it coming” in a way.
Take time to reflect on your emotional reactions to things and take responsibility for those reactions, as time goes by you will find that you are more grounded — the ups and downs of life won’t affect you as much as they did.
Maybe it sounds like these secrets to having more energy are all the things you mom said. All we can say is, don’t let that turn you back to the energy drinks. There’s at least one recommendation on this list that you haven’t been taking advantage of. So go get your energy back, one smart habit at a time.
