I’ve always been pretty lethargic until recently. Part of my recent boost in energy was because I started this blog and another small business, both things I really cared about. At the same time, I realized that if I was to do all that I have to do in a day, I’d need to be a lot more productive, and a lot more energetic, so I started focusing on how to improve my energy levels. Here are 9 things that really worked for me:
1. Drink Less Coffee
This is a tip coming from a coffee addict. I’ve found that coffee is a vicious cycle of a crutch. I have coffee, I love it, I’m happy, it’s gone, I need more. Unless I consciously limit the amount of coffee I have a day, I can easily go through ten cups. And I just feel worse overall.
Coffee in moderation isn’t bad. But before it becomes a crutch that you can’t function without, pace yourself. Try substituting with tea or soda water sometimes.
2. Have more passion
When you go through the day not really caring about what you’re doing, you’ll definitely feel drained. However, when you do things you care about, your energy levels go way up.
Have you ever felt way too tired to study or do the dishes, but excited about hanging out with your partner or playing a video game? That’s passion at work. So do things you love to do; if you’re stuck in a job you’re not thrilled about, pretend to care.
3. Interact with someone you like
I’ve worked in a few jobs that I didn’t really like, and I’m an introvert, but talking with a friend has always made me feel a lot better. A bit of joking and horsing around usually makes you feel more positive and active.
4. Got vitamins?
A multivitamin is better than a caffeine hit. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t explain how this happens, but basically your body functions better if it’s given proper fuel. Develop good food habits, and have an occasional vitamin tablet or drink.
5. Exercise
Increased energy is one of the major reasons I bother to exercise. Although it’s counter-intuitive, exercise really helps to reduce fatigue.
6. Decide to be more energetic
Strange as it sounds, this is something that’s been working for me recently. I’m going through training at work, which is incredibly boring, but I take a conscious decision to be alert and attentive. Usually, I don’t focus fully on class, and jot down notes for future articles and to-do lists, but at I’m certainly energetic about it!
My very unscientific theory is, once we decide to be more energetic, we actually focus some of our attention on how we’re feeling, and we do the right things (eat right, have tea instead of coffee) and we somehow force our brain to be more alert. I know, it doesn’t make sense, but it works for me and it might work for you.
7. Be more positive
Negative people are energy vampires, but positive people radiate energy. It’s hard to be lethargic when you’re thankful for your situation and your life. Appreciating what you’ve got makes it easier to put more into life.
8. Meditate
I’m still really bad at meditating, but it’s made a huge difference to how I feel – my work is more focused, and I’m much more productive.
9. Get out in the morning
Make yourself presentable, and get out of the house. Maybe you commute to work and read/meditate/listen to music on the way, or maybe you work from home and go for a morning jog. Either way, I’ve found that the act of getting out of the house in the morning makes me feel that much more energized.
Those are the things that worked for me. Of course, the major factor in how I feel is the fact that I’m doing things I care about, so I think I’ll soon post about working at something you love.
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