Lately, a lot of people in my life have shared they’re looking for ways to help boost their energy. Constantly balancing family, kids, work, life, or all the above – it gets exhausting. And as a society, we have a habit of saying yes to things even if they feel draining or even though our plate is already full. While saying “no” is always a solution, I recognize that sometimes it might not feel like an option based on the situation or circumstances. So, with obligations piling up and energy running low, what are some all-natural ways you can help boost your energy? I’m sharing my favorites here in hopes that they help you get the boost you need!
While getting quality sleep is the obvious and often #1 solution to shaking that slump, it’s not always the most feasible choice. Caffeine is another popular way to boost your energy, but can cause headaches and jitters in those sensitive to it, not to mention disrupt your adrenal gland function. While your body is able to adjust to caffeine intake, you’ll need higher and higher amounts of it as your body builds a tolerance. Thankfully though, there are other great ways to boost your energy that don’t involve caffeine or increasing sleep time!
Try Magnesium
Magnesium is an amazing mineral that can help with many bodily processes and help increase your energy. It's vital for processing glucose in the blood and helping your cells function. Magnesium also helps you get better sleep and relaxes sore muscles. All of these things combined is great for helping boost your energy on a daily basis. Taking a supplement may be a good way to incorporate more magnesium into your diet or you can get it by eating magnesium-rich foods including spinach, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, and broccoli (just to name a few).
Vitamin D Boost
When you have a Vitamin D deficiency, one way that shows up is through fatigue. So, if you find yourself constantly needing an energy boost, a great place to start is checking your Vitamin D levels. You can do this by getting a blood test from your doctor’s office. Or if that isn’t a viable option for you, you can begin incorporating Vitamin D supplements into your diet or lifestyle to see if it helps you boost your energy. Another simple, manageable solution is to get more sunshine! Since Vitamin D is something your body creates and uses to make hormones, an imbalance can cause a myriad of health issues. After taking these steps and you notice a boost in your energy levels, chances are you may have had a Vitamin D deficiency.
Exercise
Exert energy to boost energy? While it sounds counterintuitive, exercise is a really simple way to help boost your energy (and your mood!). When you exercise, you not only release endorphins that make you feel good, but you also increase your body’s metabolism, helping it to function better on a daily basis. Exercise also helps increase oxygen flow to all the cells in your body which will give you that much needed energy boost we’re looking for. It’ll also help you get better sleep, which will in turn, keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
Drink Less Alcohol
Another way to help give you that boost of energy is by drinking less alcohol. This suggestion of course depends on your current drinking habits. Reducing alcohol or eliminating it altogether has been proven to increase quality sleep, helping you feel better and more energized during your day. Drinking alcohol can also dehydrate your body, which not only reduces your energy, but also causes other health problems. More on that next!
Drink More Water
Dehydration is a huge culprit for lack of energy. Studies have found that dehydration can cause problems with any physical activity lasting longer than 30 seconds. This means that dehydration doesn’t just cause problems for major athletes – it can affect everyone else too! Constant dehydration can cause a reduction in mental clarity, concentration problems, and fatigue, so do your best to get in that water! Aim for about a gallon a day, starting out with a half gallon and working your way up. Your body will thank you and you’ll get that energy boost!
Eat Better, Energy-Boosting Foods
While it may sound intuitive, it’s not always the easiest thing to do. The truth is, food is fuel for our bodies, and we can either nourish our bodies or damage them depending on what we put into it. A great first step is finding a balance in your diet by including a variety of foods from all of the macro groups: complex carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. When you make this change, focus on increasing your intake of vegetables and healthy fats right off the bat. This small change may help you boost your energy right away. Your body uses what you fuel it with to create energy, so increasing the good stuff will help your body have more things to burn and function properly. Hello energy boost!
If you have low energy, try some of these hacks and let me know if they work for you! What are your favorite ways to boost your energy? Let me know in the comments.
