What would your life be like if you had an abundance of energy and vitality? How would you feel? How would you act? It is important to first understand what zaps our energy, in order to know how to get our energy back.
There are many factors that contribute to our sense of energy. Four that come to my mind are emotional, mental, physical, and chemical stress, which also includes the foods we eat. The primary food, drinks, and substances that can decrease our energy are things such as coffee, soft drinks, alcohol, too much meat or not enough, processed foods, tobacco, milk, sugar and artificial sweeteners, and trans fats.
So, which ones do you depend on? Are you ready to get rid of the energy zappers and start increasing your energy in one week? Here are seven ways to begin your journey to more energy and vitality.
1. Morning lemon water. When you first wake up in the morning, drink a glass of room temperature or lukewarm water with a piece of lemon. Water first thing in the morning gets your body going and helps your lymphatic system flow properly. Think of it as a gentle wake up call for all your systems.
2. Get plenty of sleep. When you are tired or stressed, your body will crave energy. These cravings are often a result of being sleep-deprived, going to bed late, waking up early, sometimes for months and years on end. Not only is your body getting rejuvenated when you sleep, but it’s also the time when your body heals itself of any imbalances. It is important to be consistent with your sleep pattern and to create a healthy sleeping routine. Go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time, and you will notice your energy levels will last throughout the day.
Read more about getting a good night's sleep
3. Get rid of unhealthy toxic relationships. I love this quote, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Make sure the people you hang around the most lift you up and don’t put you down. People can drain you of your energy. It doesn’t mean that they are bad, but it is good to notice who drains you and why. See if you can transform those relationships by communicating and setting boundaries, or end the relationship.
4. Take time for yourself. I am finding that a lot of my clients (including me at times) have a hard time planning time for themselves. When we keep going and going we will eventually burn out and lose all of our energy. Having “me time” is one of the most important and easiest ways to gain your energy. Find activities that restore your energy, such as a walk, a bath, a museum, a movie or whatever you enjoy, and schedule a weekly date with yourself to do these things!
5. Reduce or eliminate coffee and soft drinks. When I gave up coffee and soda I noticed an immediate increase in my energy. The ups and downs of these negative caffeine sources include dehydration and blood sugar ups and downs, making mood swings more frequent. Stimulants (caffeine, sugar, etc.) may seem to give an energy boost, but they actually deplete our bodies, drawing out minerals and nutrients. These substances are also highly addictive.
6. Don’t skip the superfoods. Superfoods give your body a vital and powerful boost. They have been effective at helping to prevent diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Superfoods such as leafy greens like kale, collards and chard, have very high levels of nutrients. Also sea plants such as green algae and seaweeds are powerful sources of nutrition and energy. Some of my personal favorite superfoods include bee pollen, maca, and chia seeds, and when you incorporate them into your daily routine you will see a quick increase in your energy levels.
7. Only use organic produce. I know how convenient it is to just grab the first apple, celery stalk, head of lettuce, or bag of carrots you see on sale, but your body is a temple that needs to be respected and nourished so buying organic is best. Apples alone are the most highly sprayed fruits – with pesticides, not something yummy. In fact, there are over 25 different pesticide sprays used on the foods we eat! Yuck, you don’t want that in your body when you are working so hard to shed toxins. Trust me you body will thank you later.
Photo: calmenda
