7 Ways to Boost Your Energy and Get More Done

POPSUGAR Smart Living — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 10:36:42 +0000

If you're feeling sluggish and can't seem to get anything done, perhaps it's time to work on your internal store of energy. By reinvigorating yourself, you'll be able to get more things done and have an easier time completing tasks. Here are changes you can make in your lifestyle to increase your energy.

Get Better Sleep

Sleep is key when it comes to fatigue. It's a time when your body rests and regenerates itself for yet another day. If you're having problems with sleep, get a physical to first see if there's something off with your body healthwise. Perhaps you aren't getting enough iron, or maybe there's a deeper health issue that needs to be rectified like thyroid problems. Start practicing good sleep habits like going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, making sure you're only exposed to dim lighting when it's close to bedtime, and experimenting to find your sleep sweet spot to make sure you're not sleeping too much or too little. Here are more suggestions on how to improve your sleep.

Move Around More

Even though it may seem like exercising will make you more tired, the truth is, engaging in physical activity will increase your energy. Set a regular schedule and try to work out at least three times a week. And if you're feeling like you're stuck in a slump at work, even a brisk 10-minute walk will energize you. Challenge yourself by taking the stairs and investing in a pedometer ($22, originally $32) to motivate you. A pedometer is basically a gadget that measures how much you walk a day. The recommended amount of steps for an active lifestyle is 10,000 a day.

Clean Your Home

Your home is a place for you to unwind and relax, so having a cluttered home can make you antsy. Gazing upon a mound of clothing instead of open, clean space is enough to make anyone stressed out. Having an untidy home is like facing a visible, never-ending to-do list all the time. Give yourself a break and start tackling the clutter in your home. If it seems overwhelming, start by resolving to dispose of one type of item a day. Here's a list to get you started.

Eat and Drink Right

You are what you eat, and what you ingest can definitely have a big impact on your energy. What you drink is also important; being dehydrated can make you feel fatigued. Drinking too much coffee can lead you to crash after the effect wears off. Too much sugar can also spike your blood sugar, which, although it can give you a boost of energy, will quickly drop and leave you feeling more tired than ever. Watch what you eat and what you drink. Drinking coffee or alcohol too close to bedtime can also affect your sleep.

Have Some "Me" Time

Take a moment to yourself to relax after a long day. It's important to manage your stress levels because stress can definitely sap your energy. Read a favorite book or watch a funny YouTube video to kick back and relax. Be sure to pick an activity that won't stress you out even further. For example, watching reality TV can possibly put someone in a more negative frame of mind.

Meditate

Pick up the fine art of meditation; it can work wonders for your brain and even help you bounce back better from stress. In fact, scientists have found that people who have trained in meditation have different brain activity than those who haven't trained. They respond better to situations that would cause us to lose emotional control.

Take a Break

Perhaps what you really need is a break from work. Go on a vacation to relieve your stress and renew your energy.

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If you're sleepy, sluggish, or feeling sapped, don't just sit there — try these tricks to get your energy back up.

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5 ways to get better sleep...TONIGHT!!!

Sarah Winfrey — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:14:45 +0000

I'm not what you would call "A Good Sleeper." Never have been, at least not as long as I can remember. Since going through a day zombie-like is not fun (and not very productive, either), I've come up with some things that work to help me get to sleep and stay asleep. I hope they help you, too!

1. Wind down for 30 minutes before you try to sleep.

What relaxes you? Books? Movies? Music? Whatever it is, get yourself some and spend some time with it. Not too much, mind you, or it's not about sleeping anymore. A half hour spent doing something you enjoy is just about the perfect amount of time to relax before you fall asleep.

2. Check the temperature.

If you're uncomfortable, you will tend to sleep poorly even if you don't wake up because of it. You should feel slightly cool but not cold and definitely not hot. That will be different for everyone, so you may have to negotiate if your partner feels "slightly cool" at a different temp than you do. Put some blankets within easy reach, if getting cold in the night is something that happens to you. For some reason, we don't always notice the temperature when we're fighting to sleep well, but changing it can work wonders.

3. Go to the bathroom, and don't drink anything in the hour before you try to sleep.

Ok, so it sounds a little silly, but if you don't have to get up to use the toilet in the middle of the night, you're more likely to sleep all the way through until morning, and that sleep is more likely to be good. Interrupted sleep is always less restful and less deep than uninterrupted sleep.

4. Make a list of the things you want to do tomorrow.

Often, we lie awake at night because we're thinking or worrying about what the morning will bring. Writing these things down helps us feel like we don't have to carry them around in our heads anymore, which can allow our minds to relax so we can sleep, and sleep well. if you have things come to you when you're lying in bed, or if you aren't plagued so much with things to do but with thoughts or "what if's...," writing can help you too. Keep a pen and paper by your bed and list the things that come to mind or the things you want to think about. Block out some time to spend with them in the morning so you can sleep peacefully all night.

5. Spray your sheets with a relaxing scent.

Not everything aroma therapists claim scents can do is true, but they can help us relax. Lavender is known to be relaxing, but really, it's whatever works for you. Find a body spray in the bed and bath section of your local drug store or supermarket, spray your sheets, and sleep the night away. Don't spray it on too thick, or you'll have to change your sheets to be able to breathe. A light spray from 3 or 4 feet away is usually good to go.

Sleep well, everyone!† I know I hope I do.

This article is from Sarah Winfrey of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: