January comes with a natural energetic boost. After all, it’s the start of a new year. Then February comes along, the New Year and your new goals don’t seem as fresh, and the colder weather and shorter daylight hours are starting to get to you. If this sounds about right, it might be time for a winter recharge to enhance your energy levels. Make it happen with these tips: Junk in equals junk out. Have you ever noticed that after you eat fast food, your energy levels bottom out? It makes sense: Plenty of fast food items are loaded with calories and unhealthy fats, which quickly impacts how you feel. Avoid the drive-thru, and incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids, which promote brain and heart health, into your diet: Have salmon for dinner, add some chia or flaxseeds to your salad or yogurt, or snack on some walnuts. Stretch away stress. Stretching increases the circulation of blood and oxygen to your muscles, which can help improve energy levels, increase your sense of vitality, and encourage waste removal from your body’s tissues. (Save your sanity with these 7 Stress-Busting Yoga Poses.) Take a 10-minute walk. If you’re tight on time, a quick walk can work wonders. You’ll get your heart rate up, get your blood circulating, and boost your energy levels. In fact, you’ll probably be surprised at what a 10-minute stroll can do for your overall energy. Have a laugh. When we laugh, our body undergoes physiological changes. Laughing boosts your energy and bolsters your immunity, burns calories, and (of course) enhances your mood. Laughter even causes us to hasten our breathing, which sends more vital oxygen to tissues. Get your sweat on. They call it “runner’s high” for a reason, and that endorphin boost applies to every cardiovascular activity. It sounds counterintuitive, but moving gives you energy to move more—especially when you get that heart rate way up. Sleep it off. Rest is your recharger. With too little sleep, your system just won’t work right. Your body’s temperature rises, as does your appetite and your levels of stress hormones. Aim for seven hours a night, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish every single day. (Sleep better tonight with these Natural Solutions For Insomnia.) Think positive. Replace negative thoughts with empowering, supportive ones. Transition your frame of mind into one oriented around positive phrases: “I can do this. I feel strong. I am full of energy.” Buddy up. Relationships with people can bolster your energy levels and offer the support you need to conquer the world (or, at least, feel like you can). If you haven’t spent time with friends recently, work in some social outings to connect and share with individuals who give you a boost. Lose the fear. Energize yourself by letting go of fear. Whether you fear success or failure or something else entirely, the feeling can be debilitating. Fear can stop you in your tracks and is usually fed by irrational thoughts…a process that requires tons of energy. When you lose the fear, you’ll have more energy to put into the rest of your life. Questions? Comments? Contact Prevention’s News Team.
