Kristian Sekulic/iStockphoto
1. Go for a walk.
"Less than 25 percent of my female patients get enough
exercise to feel energized," says Ann Kulze, M.D., author of
Dr. Ann's 10 Step Diet. Aim for 30 minutes of
activity, five days a week.
2. Snack on nuts, not sweets.
Sugary snacks cause blood sugar levels to spike, then crash,
leaving you wiped out, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., medical
director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue
Centers. But the protein in nuts digests slowly for
lasting energy.
3. Pop a mint.
The smell of
mint ups alertness by stimulating your trigeminal
nerve, "the same nerve that's activated by smelling
salts," says Alan Hirsch, M.D., director of Chicago's
Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation.
4.
Give yourself a massage.
Massage your ears for 15 to 30 seconds, suggests Teitelbaum. This
stimulates energizing acupuncture points for a quick mental
boost.
5. Have a banana.
Bananas provide potassium, a mineral key to converting blood sugar
into energy, says ob/gyn Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom.
6.
Sip green tea.
It contains caffeine (a stimulant) and theanine, which calms you
while leaving your mind clear.
7. Take a hike.
Observing nature's beauty can
relieve energy-zapping stress. Studies suggest that
workers who have views of nature have fewer stress-related
symptoms.
8. Avoid "energy vampires."
You know, like that friend who calls twice a day just to grumble?
"These people wear you out with their constant
complaining," says Judith Orloff, M.D. So set limits. For
instance, tell your friend you can talk for only five minutes, then
end the call when her time is up.
9. Take a power nap.
A Harvard study found that a 30-minute midday nap prevented energy
from flagging further, while an hour-long nap actually boosted
energy and performance.
10. Do a mini-meditation.
Sit in a quiet place, take slow, deep breaths, and concentrate on a
pleasing memory. Within three minutes, you should
feel calmer and more energized.
PLUS: What if we told you your lagging energy level has little or nothing to do with your superbusy schedule? Read on to discover the real reasons you're dragging...
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