When it comes to waking up in the morning and keeping ourselves energised throughout the day, as many as 125 million of us depend on coffee. While coffee provides us with an almost immediate caffeine fix; however, this caffeine fix is short-lived and isn’t without its downsides. As a result, many of us find ourselves looking for alternative ways to keep ourselves energised throughout the day. With this being said, dependencies on coffee are common, meaning it’s hard to break away from the habit of pouring a brew each morning, as well as multiple throughout the day.
Let’s face it, we’re not machines that run on batteries, and we each have individual requirements when it comes to self-care. With this being said, detailed below are just some of the tips we should be following to stay energised.
Keep Hydrated
It’s no secret that fatigue is a common symptom of dehydration, meaning that drinking water throughout the day is absolutely essential to staying energised. As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended to us that we should be drinking between six and eight glasses of water daily; however, this also depends on the size of our bodies and what we require to function. One of the worst things about coffee is that it contributes to dehydration, which is why making the switch from coffee to water could make a considerable difference to your energy levels.
Practice Breathing
Many of us underestimate the power of our breathing, which has a significant impact on our energy levels. For instance, the “Bellows Breath” in yoga stimulates the diaphragm, which results in alertness in the body being increased. You can execute this breath by keeping your mouth closed, inhaling and exhaling rapidly through your nose using quick and short breaths. After doing this for around 10 seconds, you can breathe normally before repeating. You might want to try this when you’re alone as it’s quite a noisy exercise; however, it’s incredibly effective in keeping your energy levels elevated.
Exercise
From a quick walk to an intense run, exercise is ironically one of the most effective modes of re-energising oneself. This is because exercise informs our bodies that our cells are in need of more energy, to which our bodies respond and fulfil this task. Similarly, exercise releases a chemical otherwise known as norepinephrine, which causes us to feel awake and alert. Meanwhile, endorphins are also released, which are our happy chemicals, meaning that they also have a positive impact on our energy levels.
Eat Regularly and Well
Everyone knows that food provides us with energy; therefore, it goes without saying that skipping meals deprives our bodies of energy. Additionally, skipping one meal can lead you to eat more in the following meal, resulting in overeating and feelings of lethargy. Consequently, in order to feel consistently energised, we should focus on eating nutritious food regularly to keep our blood sugar levels consistent and prevent us from falling into feelings of fatigue.
Snacks Are Your Friend
A lot of the time that you find yourself feeling tired, it’s because you’re lacking sugar. When you’re feeling particularly low, you might need a quick replenishment via a snack. It’s best to select a snack that boasts a combination of proteins, fats, and carbs. The proteins and fatskeep you feeling full and stop you from burning energy too quickly, while the carbs allow you to get a quick burst of energy. For instance, unsweetened, low-fat Greek yoghurt with unsweetened granola is an ideal snack. Alternatively, apple and peanut butter will be beneficial to keeping your energy levels up.
