Summer is my favorite time of year, but the really hot days, increased activity, and travel can leave you feeling completely exhausted! An extra espresso shot just doesn’t seem to do the trick. Here are 5 tips to keep you feeling energetic so you can get the most out of the summer months!
-
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Our bodies are made up of between 60 to 70 percent water. We need water to regulate temperature, to transport oxygen to our cells, to remove waste from our system, and of course to supply our bodies with nutrients. Drink water first thing in the morning and try to remember to keep doing so throughout the day. I find this hydration calculator a very nice tool to determine how much water we actually need per day based on our activity level, as well as other factors: http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm
-
Stay positive! Does dealing with office politics or difficult family members leave you feeling drained? I know it has that effect on me. Try and counter the negativity by spending time with people who uplift you. This may be easier said than done in the workplace, but it is far less energy zapping to avoid the office gossip. If your regular lunch bunch spends too much time complaining, try going for a lunch-time walk on your own once in awhile. You will be surprised how much more inspired and energized you may feel.
- Get moving! I have been suffering from jet lag since returning from vacation last week. I have been so tired; the last thing I felt like doing was exercising. I went for a brisk walk for both the cardiovascular activity and exposure to sunlight to help with the jet lag. I felt so much better once I spent a few minutes outdoors! Ignore the little voice telling you to sleep for an extra hour and get moving! A few minutes of stretching each day goes a long way as well, especially if you have been cramped on an airplane for several hours.
- Stay on top of the clutter. For years, I let the unimportant mail and documents to shred pile up until the pile toppled over. Just looking a pile of mail to be opened made me want to take a nap! I made a decision to stay on top of the clutter so it wasn’t such a dreaded chore. Got an untidy garage? Consider donating furniture, clothing, and small appliances that you haven’t used in ages to a local community non-profit or check out Freecycle.com to see if a neighbor may be able to use something you are ready to part with!
- Don’t forget to breathe! Just like water is such a critical component to our health and energy level, so is oxygen! Deep breathing promotes relaxation and a healthy lymphatic system. If you can do simple breathing exercises on your own — great! If not, I have found some gentle and restorative yoga classes to be very helpful in teaching the art of mindful breathing.
I hope you find these 5 tips for staying energized helpful! If you have comments or other suggestions, I would love to hear from you!
