Last Updated on November 28, 2017 by Jeff
Millions of Americans struggle with low energy. Boost yours with these simple steps.
According to a 2015 report published in Statista, Americans are sleeping less and feeling tired more often. As we will see below, catching a few extra Zs is one of many strategies you can use to feel more awake, alert, and alive — even during that rough 3 PM afternoon slump. Here are five of the most effective lifestyle changes you can make starting today:
1. Limit and Control Stress
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, our complicated and fast-paced modern lives tend to provoke quite a bit of stress. Managing such feelings wisely is a must — if you fail to do so, then your health, your peace-of-mind, and your day-to-day energy will all suffer.
Limiting the number of demanding activities, responsibilities, and projects you undertake is one important way of doing this. At the same time, you should find effective methods of alleviating stress — and make them a priority. Examples include participating in relaxing hobbies, spending time with friends, and/or seeing a psychotherapist.
2. Don’t Skip Your Checkup
From simple hormonal imbalances to serious life-threatening illnesses, there are many medical conditions that could be causing your low energy levels, which is why seeing your doctor regularly is a must.
3. Eat For Energy
Your dietary choices have a tremendous impact on your vitality. For example, as a general rule, adults need between 2000 and 2500 calories per day. But consuming one enormous 2500 calorie meal and then going hungry the rest of the day is not going to cut it!
Even though most people don’t take things to this extreme, many of us do let our schedules, our cravings, or our diet plans get in the way of common sense eating schedules. Consuming reasonably-sized meals and snacks throughout the day is a much more balanced approach that will keep you feeling healthier and energetic.
And speaking of balance, remember that eating a diverse diet full of fruits, veggies, fish, and complex carbs is infinitely better than eating the same few meals every day! Varying your diet will ensure that you get all the vitamins and minerals you need to get through your day feeling strong.
4. Have (one) Cup of Joe
Used wisely, coffee has many health benefits — one of which, of course, is increased energy and alertness. Just be sure to keep your caffeine consumption moderate, and to avoid drinking coffee and other similar substances after 2 PM, as this can interfere with healthy sleep patterns. Speaking of which…
5. Sleep In
As we mentioned at the start of this article, most Americans simply aren’t getting enough sleep — and as you can imagine, failing to rest is the perfect recipe for feeling tired! Limiting late-night screen time is one highly effective way of improving your sleeping patterns; as is getting a daily dose of exercise. As counterintuitive as it may seem, hitting the gym can actually boost your energy levels in its own right. Check out the Top Fitness Mag exercise archives to learn more about the benefits of a good heart-pounding workout!