Fact: Calories do not necessarily translate into more energy. While your body does need calories in order to fuel its different activities, this does not mean that by eating more calories you will be able to have more energy. Unfortunately, many of us live our lives in this way: we eat a lot of candy bars, carbohydrates, energy bars, and more, hoping that it will give us the boost that we need to make it through the day. Rather than using food to make yourself feel more energetic, there are other ways that you can get more energy and more vitality in your life.
There are a number of different ways that you can improve your energy. Here are just a few of them.
1. Start to move your body!
You don't have to run a marathon for each daily round of exercise. Even just a little bit of exercise, like running up a down a couple flights of stairs, or taking a quick 10-mnute walk during your lunch break, will give you more energy and will make you feel better right away. You will also be able to feel less stressed out and will help you feel more positive.
In fact, even if you normally turn to chocolate to make yourself feel better, studies have demonstrated that this energy and mood fix will only last for about 30 minutes. On the other hand, 10 minutes of vigorous exercise will lead to improved mood and improved energy for one to two hours afterwards. And you won't be loading up on extra calories-and packing on the extra pounds.
Even more exercise will lead to greater energy and improved mood. In fact, studies have shown that exercising not only makes us more fit physically, thus leading to greater energy, but exercise has incredible positive benefits on our emotions. Stress, depression, and anxiety all lead to lower energy levels. Exercise actually improves the production and the movement of chemicals that improve our moods and increase our energy.
2. Know your body-and its energy highs and its energy lows
Everyone has an internal clock. This internal clock is important to understand so that you know when you have energy highs and energy lows. You will be tired right after you wake up, even if you have a good night's sleep. Your energy will then peak in the early afternoon-around 11 am to 1 pm. Then your energy will drop again in the late afternoon, which is around 3 pm to 5 pm. You will experience a rise in the early evening, which is around 6 pm or 7 pm, and then will drop again. Knowing your internal clock will help you know when to plan different activities. It can also help you control when you start eating empty calories-potato chips, candy bars, soda pop-in order to improve your energy. Instead, snack on healthy foods, such as carrots and fruit. You can also take a short nap at the times when your energy drops-twenty minutes-and you will see your energy and your vitality shoot up.