Consistently depleted energy levels can turn virtually every facet of your life into a chore. In the absence of energy, simply navigating your daily routine is liable to seem like an uphill climb. If you’re currently suffering from waning energy reserves, it’s important that you understand that is a common problem – and one that is often easy to correct. Anyone on the hunt for simple, stress-free solutions for low energy should consider the following options.
Improve Your Sleep Habits
Poor sleep habits are a huge contributor to depleted energy levels. In addition to providing your brain with time to process information and detox, sleep plays a vital role in healing and repairing your heart and blood vessels. So, if your current sleep habits leave something to be desired, start taking measures to improve the quality of your nightly respite.
If your slumber quality is suffering because you’re simply not giving yourself enough time to properly rest up, start going to sleep at the same time – or at least within the same window of time – every night. Furthermore, the bedtime you choose for yourself should allow for at least seven to eight hours of sleep. To help ensure that you become acclimated to your new bedtime in a timely manner, try to stick with it during weekends and other periods of downtime.
If trouble falling asleep is the cause of your sleep problems, develop a nightly relaxation routine. For example, you may want to consider shutting off all screens an hour or so before hitting the hay and devoting this time to engaging in activities that will relax your mind and body and get you primed for a peaceful night’s slumber. Meditation, deep breathing exercises and reading are all examples of pre-bedtime activities that are conducive to proper rest and relaxation.
Steer Clear of Smoking
Smoking is a bad idea for a number of reasons. Any short-term relief facilitated by lighting up is instantly eclipsed by the various health problems this stands to cause. Furthermore, the nicotine found in cigarettes can be conducive to insomnia – which, in turn, is conducive to low energy levels. So, in the interest of sleeping through the night and having plenty of energy for the day ahead, take care to avoid smoking at all costs.
Reduce Stress and Anxiety
When many of us think of things that deplete our energy, our minds go straight to exercise and other physically strenuous endeavors. However, in addition to being a drain on one’s mental energy, stress and anxiety can leave you physically exhausted – especially when left unchecked. Although all of us deal with stress and anxiety at one point or another, allowing them to dominate your entire existence is liable to result in a considerable loss of energy.
When working to keep stress, anxiety and other mental health issues in check, you should actively seek to minimize exposure to the stressors in your life. If doing this on your own proves too difficult, look for a therapist or counselor who specializes in the types of problems you’re dealing with.
Push Back Against Overwork
Unsurprisingly, overwork is among the most common causes of depleted energy. Since we live in a culture that regards consistently working oneself to the bone as something to be celebrated, many of us have a hard time pushing back against overwork. In fact, for a growing number of Americans, leaving the office and coming home simply represents an extension of the workday. With unpaid overtime and excessive workloads becoming increasingly commonplace, there’s little wonder as to why so many people feel completely smothered by their jobs.
If this describes your work situation, it’s high time you took a stand and began pushing back. For example, if you’re unable to meet deadlines without sacrificing large amounts of your personal time, bring this to the attention of the relevant parties. In all likelihood, the problem stems from the deadlines being unreasonable instead of your work habits being inefficient. Additionally, if your work hours are inconsistent and there’s no structure surrounding the average workday, make a point of adhering to a set work schedule. In other words, each workday will begin and end at a certain time. Furthermore, you should insist that any personal time spent on work-related matters is time for which you are compensated.
Avoid Skipping Meals
There are a variety of reasons for which people skip meals. In many cases, hectic schedules act as a deterrent to proper eating habits. Other times, people erroneously regard skipping meals as an effective method of long-term weight loss. However, regardless of your reason for skipping meals, doing so can have adverse effects on your metabolism, mood and energy levels. Food is the fuel that keeps your body going and replenishes your energy reserves, so no matter how packed your schedule is or how eager you are to lose weight, take care to eat three meals a day and enjoy healthy snacks between meals.
Get Regular Exercise
Although many people may understandably regard exercise as being on the supply side of energy depletion, this isn’t entirely true. While strenuous exercise may leave you exhausted in the short term, working out on a regular basis can increase your overall stamina. Of course, this doesn’t mean that boosting your energy will require you to exercise to the point of total exhaustion. Just half an hour of moderate physical activity a day can help you maintain high energy levels and enjoy a number of other health benefits. Furthermore, a stamina-inducing shake made with organic plant-based protein powder can make the perfect complement to virtually any workout.
Going through life with waning energy reserves can be a real hurdle. Whether you’re plugging away at work or trying to enjoy yourself at home, a perpetual lack of energy can effectively throw a wrench into everything you attempt. However, the good news is that if you’re suffering from low energy, you’re not alone. Waning energy is hardly an uncommon issue, and in many cases, correcting the problem is fairly easy. So, if you’re looking for easy, effective ways to bring your energy levels up to snuff, consider the methods discussed above.