Truth time. On most days, I’m fuelled by caffeine.
I wake up at 4:15, I run around during the day checking things off my to-do list, and then I crash into bed around 10:30 or 11:00. The next day, I begin it all again.
While I objectively understand our need for 7-8 hours of sleep each night, and I recognize the health benefits – both physical and mental – for getting enough rest, I still struggle to listen to my own advice.
And what do I get in return? A foggy brain, a short temper, and I’m always hungry. 🙄
With our increasingly busy lives at both work and at home, we face more demands on our time than ever. You don’t need me to tell you that this kind of strain takes a serious toll on our energy levels, which leaves us tired, irritable, and overwhelmed.
Can you relate? Do you find yourself ever running on “E”? Are your afternoons powered by caffeine? 🙋
If so, then I’d love for you to join me on my journey to start naturally recharging our batteries. 🙌
Yep, it’s time to put down that extra cup of coffee and give these five simple strategies a try. Find which one(s) work for you, and then let me know how it goes below! 👇
Boost Your Energy Naturally With These 5 Simple Strategies
1) Sleep and Energy Levels
As I mentioned above, getting enough sleep is a given. Of course, we need enough rest, right? 💁
But understanding the importance of sleep and actually practicing your ideal bedtime routine are two entirely different things.
It’s true that the amount of sleep we need varies from person to person, but for most of us, the optimal amount is about 8 hours. So if you want to boost your energy naturally, then decide what time you need to wake up, count back 8.5 hours, and set an alarm for your bedtime. When the alarm goes off, it’s time to get ready for bed. No excuses.
If you struggle to get enough sleep, or if you’re looking for extra tips to get to bed on time, then check out my favorite sleep strategies below!
💤The Ultimate Sleep Strategy Resource Guide
💤Create Your Perfect Bedtime Routine
2) Exercise and Stamina
I know, this one seems a bit counter-intuitive, but hear me out.
Believe it or not, exercise does not simply tire you out. In fact, according to Everyday Health, getting regular exercise can profoundly increase your energy levels.
How, you ask? By engaging in regular exercise, you improve your physical fitness, which also increases your stamina. And stamina, my friend, is exactly what you need. Because with increased stamina, you can power through your day with energy to spare.
💪Are you looking for strategies to stick with your fitness goals? Then be sure to check out my top tips for establishing and following your fitness goals here!
3) Don’t Skip Meals
One of the best ways to naturally boost your energy levels is to eat regular meals.
As you know, your body gets its energy from the food you eat. Therefore, if you start skipping meals, or if you find yourself grazing on empty calories throughout the day, you’re not filling your body with the nutrients it needs. And surprise! Your energy levels quickly dissipate. (Hello, afternoon slump!) So do your best to eat regular, balanced meals throughout the day to keep those energy levels up.
4) Banish Unhealthy Stress:
While stress is a completely normal experience, and we all deal with it at different times in our lives, it’s also important to note that not all stress is created equal. Yep, there are two different types of stress: Eustress (good) and Distress (bad). Today I want to talk about banishing distress as much as possible.
You see, experiencing regular distress can drastically decrease your energy levels, which makes it incredibly challenging to stay focused. By finding ways to reduce the stress in your life, you will not only feel better emotionally, but you’ll also experience a boost in energy levels.
One of my favorite stress-busting activities is exercise. When we engage in physical activity, our body releases happiness boosting endorphins and pushes away the energy-sucking stress. My other favorite stress-busting strategy is to simply make a to-do list before bed of the upcoming tasks I need to complete. This helps me clear my mind of unnecessary worries because I can reassure myself that I’ve already written the task down, and I will not forget about it.
🙌Want to learn more stress-busting strategies? Check out my post, The Five Leading Causes of Stress and How to Handle Them here!
5) Practice Self-Care and Downtime
It’s no secret that I’m a huge advocate of self-care. Why? Because I firmly believe that it’s the key to a healthy and balanced life.
As women, we put ourselves on the backburner far too often while we tend to other people’s needs.
If we want to keep our energy levels high, however, and live each day to its fullest, we need to find time to recharge. And self-care is how to do that.
So take time every day (yes, every day) to practice self-care. Allow yourself time to rest so you can continue performing at your peak.
Do you need some strategies to incorporate self-care into your daily life? Then check out my post, Self-Care: The Key to Healthy Living and get my free self-care worksheet today!
And there you have it, friends. 5 natural ways to boost your energy. Are you ready to take the challenge with me? Great! Then download this free 12-month habit tracker; you can track your progress, figure out what strategies work best for you, and watch your energy levels soar.
Question:
Do you struggle with energy levels? Are you a caffeine addict? What are your strategies to boost your energy naturally? Let me know below!
Rachel says
August 24, 2018 at 4:40 pmI haven’t been giving myself down time or sleep lately and I feel completely worn down. I need to give myself a break.
Paula says
August 24, 2018 at 6:19 pmYes, absolutely! It’s so important to allow your body the time it needs to rest 🙂
Courtney Byers says
August 24, 2018 at 1:53 pmThese are such amazing tips! I am actually about to head out to exercise. I have noticed it makes me feel so much better.
Paula says
August 24, 2018 at 6:20 pmThat’s fantastic, Courtney; good for you! I love how exercise makes me feel, too 🙂
gingerandchampagne says
August 24, 2018 at 11:51 amUgh. These are all so spot on and I need to finally heed them. I’m always low on energy!
Paula says
August 24, 2018 at 6:21 pmI hope you give them a try, I think they’ll help bring back a little energy to your step 🙂
GETYOURHOLIDAYON says
August 23, 2018 at 9:13 pmThis is fantastic! I can always use tips on boosting my energy! Thanks for the helpful ideas. 🙂
Paula says
August 24, 2018 at 6:23 pmYou’re welcome 🙂
RACHEL LOZA says
August 23, 2018 at 1:16 pmThese are really great tips. I’ve been forgetting meals lately and my energy has been awful.
Paula says
August 24, 2018 at 6:24 pmIt’s amazing how much of an impact that makes, isn’t it?
Karen says
August 23, 2018 at 11:33 amThis is exactly what I needed! I am having troubles with my energy lately; I feel so tired every day, but I’m not doing much. I prefer to be a lot busier (but still enjoy what I’m doing), than doing nothing at all. It’s tiring. And, yes! I’m a caffeine addict too. I am trying to workout every now and then to keep my energy level high, and I just recently started meditation.
Paula says
August 24, 2018 at 6:24 pmI hope these tips help, Karen! I’m trying to get into meditation, too. I’m having a hard time sticking with it, but I feel so much better when I remember 🙂
Ruth says
August 22, 2018 at 12:39 pmSuch great tips! I really appreciate the advice and the links to extra resources. So good and helpful!
Paula says
August 23, 2018 at 7:42 amGlad to hear it, Ruth!
Lauren says
August 22, 2018 at 12:28 pmUgh I definitely find myself running on empty and reaching for an extra cup of coffee (or worse…chocolate!). I need to get back into working out regularly to build up my stamina!
Paula says
August 23, 2018 at 7:40 amIt’s so easy to fall back on those crutches, isn’t it? You’re definitely not alone! And yes! Working out is SUCH a great way to boost that stamina 🙂
Erin says
August 7, 2018 at 3:32 pmGreat tips! My biggest fault is sleep. Sleep is not a thing anymore since the little one came along. I go to bed late and wake up early. I really need to work on this. 😴
Paula says
August 8, 2018 at 6:13 pmThanks, Erin! It’s definitely my biggest challenge, too. (And I don’t even have a little one to blame!) I’ve been setting a “bedtime alarm,” which has helped quite a bit 🙂
Kimberly says
August 4, 2018 at 11:28 amThese are great ideas! I definitely rely on coffee a little too much these days!
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 4:03 pmIt’s so easy to do, isn’t it? 😴
Raina says
August 4, 2018 at 10:59 amGreat tips sheet! I always could use more sleep, and exercise does make me feel so refreshed!
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 4:02 pmIt’s amazing how much of a difference exercise makes, isn’t it?
xoxobellablog says
August 3, 2018 at 7:19 pmWhat a great blog post, I usually always have at least 7 hours of sleep and I workout every morning as well! I always start my days the same and I enjoy waking up early! I try to avoid coffee most days but some days you just need it.
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 4:02 pmThat’s fantastic! I love meeting other early morning risers 🙂
Theresa | Bridesmaids Confession says
August 3, 2018 at 7:18 pmI totally here you on finding ways to make sure you get the sleep. I am so cranky and out of it when I don’t get enough rest. I’m trying meditation everyday to help with this.
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 4:01 pmI love that meditation has helped. That’s wonderful news, Theresa!
Rachel says
August 3, 2018 at 3:45 pmI’m definitely a caffeine addict and I NEED to start going to bed at a decent hour.
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 4:00 pmI hear you. All of a sudden it’s 11:00 p.m. and I have no idea where the night went! 😂
Tara says
August 3, 2018 at 12:50 pmGreat post! I always need more energy in life, I’m definitely going to be looking in to all these recommendations now
🙂
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 3:59 pmGreat! I hope they help, Tara 🙂
marymakeup says
August 3, 2018 at 10:53 amI’ve attended an essential oil course recently and found out that we all should go to bed by 10.30, did you know that?
Shared your useful post on twitter x
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 3:58 pmThat is SO interesting! I did not know that. The class sounds awesome, by the way. And thank you for the share <3
Jenni says
August 3, 2018 at 10:06 amDowntime is so key! I sleep much better if I have even 3- minutes before bed where there are no screens or noise. When I go to bed directly after being on my phone or watching a show I sleep worse.
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 3:57 pmIt’s amazing how much of a difference that downtime makes, isn’t it?
christineidigpinterest says
August 2, 2018 at 12:49 pmI definitely need all the energy I can get with my four busy kiddos. 🙂 I need to work on the sleep thing. 🙂
Paula says
August 4, 2018 at 3:56 pmWow! I bet they keep you very busy 🙂 I hope you can squeeze a few extra minutes of sleep in every once in a while 😴