Tired of feeling tired all the time? It’s time you read this to increase your energy to keep you going through the day.
Lack of energy has become a regular complaint for most urban Indians. Work, social life, traffic and that never ending to-do list can really suck the energy out of anyone. Here are some simple things you can inculcate into your daily life to ensure more energy and productivity.
10 simple tips to hike up those energy levels
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Have regular sex: As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. This applies to sex too, so the more you have it the more you want to have it! Also sex is one of life’s great energizers and omitting it from your to-do list will rob you of the feel-good hormones released after a good time in the sack. Make sex a pre-mediated act, not something which always happens at the spur of the moment. That way you are priming yourself from the start of the day so when you finally touch your partner at the end of the day you are raring to go! Sex is a great perk up so try doing it when you wake up – on weekends perhaps. Including sex in your day-to-day life will awaken a slumbering libido, so vary the routine and have fun together.
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Watch your plate: Are you a food junkie who always opts for instant, unhealthy stuff over things that require you to labour. In our frazzled lives, we tend to make the wrong food choices which have a negative impact on our immediate energy levels and future health. Whenever you feel the hunger pangs strike, eat a fruit or a fistful of nuts and dry fruits. These provide fibre and hence a feeling of fullness, as opposed to fried salty snacks and sweets. And don’t neglect to eat breakfast. It’s ironic that the one meal we most end up skipping is the one that literally tells us –“break your fast, eat something because you need food after eight to ten hours of fasting”.
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Sleep like a baby: With television, internet and late social outings, sleep has definitely taken a backseat for most people. It may be wise to follow the ‘sleep account’ theory. If you generally need seven hours of sleep every night and you get less, you are in debit. This debit keeps piling up till your sleep requirements are met. So remember to catch up on lost sleep and make up for jetlag if you travel often.
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Meditate daily: Enough and more has been said about meditation, so I’ll keep it simple. Meditation is a means to reconnect with your inner self, energise your soul and achieve your goals. Start with meditating for five minutes; twenty minutes is ideal. Keep it simple and don’t chastise yourself if your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to your meditation.
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Get physical: Exercise is a wonderful way to show your body how much you care for it. We humans were made to be active so try incorporating exercise in any way you can. Shun the elevator and take the stairs, wake up earlier to squeeze in a morning walk or take up a sport; squash, badminton and swimming are popular. If you need to be pushed, join a class – Tai chi, kickbox or dance your way to fitness. I promise you will love the new energized you! An added benefit is that you’ll look toned and take years of your actual age.
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Slow down: I know what you’re thinking! In an age where the need is for speed, slowing down makes no sense from any angle. But wait, slowing down has its benefits. We need to recoup at regular intervals to get our strength and energy levels again. By slowing down I mean take the time to be with nature, do something out of the ordinary with your spouse or kid and really savour and chew every morsel you’re eating. You will find slowing down makes you more productive than completing your tasks at the speed of a rocket.
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Make your doctor your friend: In today’s fast paced life, we are all aware of the pitfalls that could affect our health. Find the time to analyse your lifestyle with your family physician and diligently follow the advice proffered. Cut down excess alcohol, smoking and binging on food; moderation is the key. Get an annual health check-up done even if you have no complaints. See your dentist every six months. We are only given one body so make sure it serves you well your entire life.
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Stop worrying: This is easier said than done but once you actually do it and introspect, you will conclude that it is futile to worry about things out of your control. Some people worry about making enough money, while others about children our ageing parents. It is important to realize that worry is like a blood-sucking leech. It leeches out all the positive energy, optimism and hope inside of you and reduces your ability to be competent – whether at work or at home.
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Breathe: Whenever you’re experiencing a lull in energy levels, just sit still and breathe. Concentrate on inhaling and exhaling slowly and just be aware of your breathing. Breathe from your tummy. Contrary to popular belief good breathing begins in your abdomen (assisted by that powerful muscle called the diaphragm separating the chest and abdomen) and not from the chest. Make sure that when you inhale your abdomen bulges out and while exhaling it retracts and moves inward.
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If you love what you do, it’s really a breeze: Are you in a dream job or does just thinking about work make you want to go back to sleep every morning. Doing something you hate is just going to deplete your energy and likewise, the opposite is also true. So pursue a hobby, fill your hours with pleasurable tasks and get creative; you’ll find that you have loads of energy as a reward.
So for all those complaining that they don’t have the energy to do something – just make sure they read this article.
Written by Dr Nisreen Nakhoda, General Physician
Photograph via sxc.hu
