Hey you!
Yes. You with that energy drink clutched in your hand. Drop it into the trash right now! Because we’ve got ten fool-proof energizers that can get you revved up fast, and without artificial ingredients.
Hit the gym. Moving your body will energize your brain. Even if you can’t make it to the gym, a few pull-ups or yoga stretches at your desk may do the trick. Studies have shown that working out can actually increase productivity enough to counteract that time away from the job at hand.
Hit the snooze button. How about a quick midday power nap? The optimal amount of sleep is 10 to 20 minutes to get through the day without throwing off your nighttime sleep pattern.
It’s an inside job. Hit the candy bowl. A little dark chocolate’s got caffeine, but that’s not the only reason it offers a quick pick-me-up. The flavonoids found in cocoa have been shown to boost cognitive skills and improve mood. Or you could just Drink a little coffee. Of course, six back-to-back cups of coffee is a recipe for instant crash-mode. But one cup is usually just perfect. One study found that one single cup of java is enough to keep you alert for several hours.
The great outdoors is really GREAT!
Head outside and take a few deep breaths. Imagine that oxygenated energy flooding your body. If there’s a green park nearby, so much the better. Just 20 minutes outdoors is enough to re-energize both body and mind. How’s that for an energy boost?
Take good care of your body.
It’s easy to neglect physical needs when you’re busy: You don’t take the time to eat or sleep properly, which makes you more tired and less effective, so you have even less time to eat and sleep well, so you’re more tired and even less effective. You get the picture. Stop throwing your own body under the bus of your crazy schedule. Instead, just for one day, have a simple, healthy, delicious lunch (not fast food, not from the vending machines at work, not out of a bag or a box), and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Things may look very different tomorrow.
Manage your mind.
Don’t indulge in unnecessarily negative thinking.’ For instance, if you find yourself thinking, “I’ll never get out from under all of this – nobody will help me,” reframe that with a more hopeful attitude. Maybe something like, “This is a really intense week – I need to focus on the most important things. You can actually manage your thoughts to a much greater extent than you usually do – and it can have a huge impact on your attitude and energy level.
Bring in reinforcements.
There are some people who make your life harder, and some who make it easier. Sadly, you can’t always avoid the former – but you can spend as much time as possible with people who enrich you and appreciate the joy of being with people who support and trust you and make your day more joyful. And if you don’t already know such people – find some.
Be grateful.
Every day write down five things you are grateful for TODAY. Write down five things you did well today. Write down any glitches that came up today that need to be corrected. And write down goals that you intend to accomplish tomorrow.
Laugh it up!
Just five minutes of pure fun in the midst of a grindingly bad day can be astonishingly energizing. One piece of dark chocolate, thoroughly savored on a grueling afternoon; a full-on belly laugh half-way through a long, tough meeting; looking out the window at a beautiful spring tree and just breathing for a minute: these can feel life-saving.
So there you have it–a real recipe for energy. Try one of these tricks and you’ll see results. Incorporate all ten and the sky’s the limit for you!
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