A hot cup of coffee can be a fantastic way to give you the energy and focus you need to finish your day. Unfortunately, it can also keep you up all night, leading to you needing even more caffeine to keep you awake the next day. It’s a vicious cycle. But how do you get out? The trick is to increase your energy naturally. Here are some tips on how to improve your energy levels without using caffeine.
Do yoga
The connection between the mind and the body is very strong. That’s why you feel so drained when you’re stressed. Yoga is an excellent exercise for energy because of the focus on the body-mind connection. It can be a meditative practice as much as a physical one. Reducing stress can naturally increase your energy levels. Plus, all that stretching improves circulation, which gets vital oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, giving you an extra boost of energy.
Balance blood sugar with healthy snacks
Your slump in energy around mid-afternoon leaves you craving the quick energy that simple sugars provide. You might have a cupcake or a few cookies and feel pretty energized for the next hour, but once all that sugar is used up, you’ll crash. Make sure you’re eating for sustained energy. Fibre slows the release of sugar into your bloodstream, making the energy steadier, and much less likely to lead to a crash. Avoid sugar in the afternoon. Instead have a snack that’s a mix of a high fibre carb, healthy fats, and some protein.
Reduce alcohol intake
You know that alcohol is a diuretic. That’s why you’re heading to the bathroom every 10 minutes on a good night out. The dehydrating effects are bad enough for your energy levels as it is, but alcohol also severely reduces your natural energy levels by affecting your quality of sleep. Having alcohol in your system at bedtime interrupts periods of deep sleep during which cell repair occurs, and shortens periods of REM sleep necessary for consolidating memory.
Spend time with people you love
Isolation and loneliness are major energy sucks. Spending time with loved ones increase hormones like serotonin and dopamine, which make you feel happier, less stressed, and more alert.