You know those sluggish days when you have little or no energy? You feel as though you couldn’t possibly get anything important done. Here is the harsh reality; everyone gets days like that and if you want to keep on top of your work, you need to find a way to suck it up and get on with it. You may not be able to turn these days into the most productive days that you ever have but you can certainly turn them into productive days. You just need to have some energy boosters at hand.
Energy boosters are simple behaviours or habits which you employ to raise your energy levels. They raise your alertness and boost your energy levels, thus helping you to get more done. In their excellent book ‘On Form: Achieving High Energy Performance without Sacrificing Health and Happiness and Life Balance’ Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, highlight the fact that energy management is at least as important as time management, if not more important. You may have all the time in the world but if you do not have the energy required to perform your most important tasks, you will fail to accomplish your goals. Energy levels are cyclical which is what makes energy management so important. Energy boosters help you to make the most of your energy levels and increase your long-term energy supplies. Some people resort to artificial energy boosters e.g. energy drinks, caffeine etc; but they can have a negative impact in the long-term. Natural energy boosters, if used correctly, can have a much greater impact without the side effects.
7 Natural energy boosters
The following list of natural energy boosters are easy to implement. Not only will they give you short-term benefit but, if you make them a ritual within your daily life, they will help to increase your long-term energy supplies.
1. Water
The majority of this planet consists of water. The majority of the human body consists of water. That should tell you something – water is vital for life. Each and every part of your body requires water to be able to perform at its optimum level. If you fail to keep yourself hydrated, you will quickly become tired as your energy and performance levels drop rapidly. You only have to watch the world of sports to see the importance of water. Throughout any sporting event, you will see the participants regularly take water on board so that they can maintain their energy levels.
While water is one of the most important energy boosters, it can be difficult to get yourself into the habit of regularly drinking water. Rather than drink large quantities in one go, you could have a water bottle at your desk and take regular sips. If you find it difficult to drink water, try adding a slice of lemon for a little natural flavouring.
2. Exercise
If you are feeling tired and stressed, a short walk can work wonders. Alternatively, a weight training session can be an amazing way of releasing stress and pent up frustration. When they think of energy boosters, many people overlook exercise. They think of exercise as something which robs them of energy rather than building their energy supplies.
While intensive exercise may lead to energy depletion, moderate exercise releases stress, frustration and fatigue while increasing mental and physical alertness. It also has the major benefit of improving the quality of your sleep which will further boost your energy levels.
3. Flexibility and mobility exercises
When you are feeling stressed and fatigued, your body tends to tighten up which further compounds the problem and increases the risk of injury. Tension and tightness pulls your body out of alignment and robs you of vital energy. In order to perform at your best, you need to maintain an appropriate level of flexibility and mobility in your body.
Flexibility and mobility exercises only take a few seconds each to perform. With every repetition of these exercises, you release tension and improve the alignment of your body which leads to increased energy levels.
4. Conversation
There is a reason why human beings value friendships so highly; friends make us feel good, giving us the confidence, energy and enthusiasm to perform at our best. Good friends are a vital aspect of a happy, healthy and successful life. If you want to perform to your best, it is imperative that you make time in your life for your good friends. This helps you to sustain your positivity and energy.
When you find yourself in a slump and you are lacking motivation and energy, some quality time with a friend is one of the best energy boosters that you can avail of. Even just a few minutes of pleasant conversation with someone whose company you enjoy, will give you a quick boost of energy.
5. A nap
Even at the height of World War II, the UK Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was famous for talking his afternoon nap. Churchill insisted that this nap was essential to help him perform at his best. Churchill was not alone in this thinking. Many of the world’s leading businessmen understand the value of a brief nap during the working day. A 25/30 minute nap can work wonders for your energy levels.
In the middle of the day or early afternoon, your energy levels will naturally dip. This allows your body and mind to recover from the exertions of the early part of the day. By taking a nap during this period, you maximise the recovery that you experience and you can return to work with greatly improved energy levels. Obviously, not everyone is in a position to take a nap in the middle of the day but if you can do it, the results are amazing.
6. Music
Music really is a mood changer. When you change your mood, you will also change your energy levels. Putting on some of your favourite music can give you that instant energy boost that you are seeking. It has never been easier to access your favourite tunes, so you shouldn’t have any difficulty putting a little pep in your step.
Music is actually one of the most thoroughly researched of all energy boosters. A great deal of literature has been produced to show how different pieces of music impact on your mood. So, even if you don’t know which music to listen to when you are looking for that energy boost, a quick Google search can help you to create a suitable playlist.
7. Scents
Perhaps the most overlooked of the energy boosters is your sense of smell. There is a reason why so many of the world’s leading stores spend vast quantities of money pumping scents into their stores. It is because they want you to feel positive and energetic while in their store, causing you to associate the good feelings with their brand.
You can use this information to your advantage by introducing suitable scents into your workspace. I use an oil burner located near my desk to add some energising scents to my work area. If you cannot use an oil burner in work, you can carry some scented oils with you.
For more great advice to help you increase your energy levesl, check out Limitless Energy.
Energy management has become one of the most critical aspects of managing your performance. There is little use to having free time if you do not have the energy to do anything useful with that time. Many people turn to artificial means to boost their energy but there are many natural energy boosters which can provide the necessary energy, without the side effects. Incorporating energy boosters into your daily routine is a simple but effective way to ensure that you have the required energy as and when you need it. The 7 energy boosters, listed above, are relatively simple to apply but the benefits that you will achieve are outstanding. I urge you to try them for yourself.