10 Tricks to Pump Up Your Energy

Hit the post-lunch energy slump? Instead of gulping down coffee or sugary energy drinks, try these 10 tricks to N A T U R A L L Y boost your energy!

1. Make a bowl of oatmeal. Oats provide long-lasting energy and are also a great source of calcium, iron, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin E. Opt for steel-cut oats, which are loaded with more fiber, and use manuka honey and chopped fruit to naturally sweeten your bowl.

2. Peel an orange. Your body needs carbs to create energy and fuel brain activity. While you should avoid refined carbs (like white bread, doughnuts, and cookies) that provide energy without fiber and nutrients, the unrefined carbs in oranges keep the nutrients intact.   

3. Chop up a red bell pepper. A single pepper will provide 380% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C! This essential vitamin assists your body in healing so it feels less fatigued, as well as boosts the immune system, cushions joints, and reduces inflammation.

4. Indulge in dark chocolate or a cacao-filled treat (this Cacao Magic smoothie is amazing!). Cacao beans are chock-full of nutrients and vitamins, while also providing a low-level caffeine boost. If you unwrap a bar of chocolate, make sure that it contains 70% or more cacao with as little added sugar as possible.

5. Munch on pistachios. These little nuts are dense with healthy energy—100 grams will pack in 557 calories.

6. Drink less alcohol. While having a nightcap before bed may help you fall asleep, it actually interferes with deep, restful sleep, thereby reducing your energy levels the next morning.

7. Drink more water. Sometimes we think we need rest or food, when we really just need water (thirst can appear in the form of fatigue and lethargy). Sip on water with lemon throughout the day to keep your body hydrated + energized.

8. Take a relaxing walk. Have you ever noticed that after a low-intensity workout or yoga flow, you actually feel energized? According to a University of Georgia study, a light workout can boost your energy by 20%.

9. Meditate + breathe. Stress, anger, and other negative, fiery emotions are all energy suckers. To combat the negative effects of stress (which increases the rate at which you breathe and decreases the amount of oxygen going to your brain), practice your breathwork. Place the top of your tongue behind your upper teeth and inhale for five seconds through your nose. Continue to hold your breath for eight seconds, and then exhale for eight seconds.

10. Take a power nap. Overloading our brains with new info and then analyzing and storing all of that data can zap some of our energy. The National Institute of Mental Health has found that by taking short + sweet 60-minutes naps, we can restore our energy and actually better retain any new info we’ve gathered during the day.

  

Do you have any energy-boosting tips? Share them with us on Facebook and be sure to tag #myphilosophie!