Being tired is bad for you (I’m sure you know this already), not only does it make most of us irritable and/or snappy, it undermines your skincare regime and it has become headline news that being tired is directly linked to gaining weight. While the pressures of life don’t always make for a restful night’s sleep, there are a few things that could be sapping your energy levels even more during the day – take a look at the list below:
You don’t fuel your body
Restricting your food, or overindulging in the wrong things will wreak havoc on your energy levels. Your body needs the right amount of energy each day to keep you motivated all day and you should nourish your body with the correct fuel. Whole grains, fruit and plenty of water should be in your diet to keep those energy levels up, and avoiding high sugar foods that will result in sugar crashes that leave you feeling tired and hungry.
Bedroom Technology
All of us have heard about the effects of blue light on our sleeping patterns; blue light is generated by our smartphones, tablets and TVs – three things that are now commonly found in our bedrooms. Blue light stimulates the brain and keeps it awake, rather than allowing the serotonin in our brains to build and send us off to sleep, it keeps it at bay. You will be falling asleep later if exposing yourself to blue light in bed, resulting in a shorter night’s sleep. Try switching your smartphone to ‘Night Mode’ which cuts the blue light and moving the TV out of the bedroom for a better night’s sleep.
Working without a break
It’s easy to try to fit as much as you can in one day, life is busy and skipping breaks is a quick and easy way of regaining some time, right? Wrong! Lunching at your desk, skipping a tea break or just focusing continually for prolonged periods of time will sap your energy levels. I never lunch at my desk and make sure to eat in completely different surroundings to give myself a rest and stimulate my brain in a different way. Socialising with colleagues and enjoying a walk outside will boost your vitality and relieve stress.
Not getting any exercise
In pretty much all my blog posts you will find exercise crop up, but it is so important for everything from our mental health to our energy levels. We all know it, exercising will give you more energy and incorporating regular exercise into your life will give you a constant supply. I’m not talking about running marathons, power walking, swimming or dancing will all fit the bill. Find something you love to do, that is fun and you will start shedding that tired feeling.
Being available 24/7
I love living in this ‘digital age’ I completely embrace being able to consume content, connect with people and stay constantly ‘on’ via omnichannel apps and technology. It allows me to juggle many things all at once just off of my phone and while I would never disconnect myself I do set strict boundaries. I allow time that I am not reachable via technology, it allows time to disconnect and relax; constantly being ready to action something is very draining, as is the feeling of missing out on something happening. A few hours to relax away from the world will recharge your batteries.
Do you have any other tips for boosting energy levels? Let me know!
