Energy Boost
So as I take baby steps and trying to find simple ways to improve myself as a whole, I seem to keep having little gems like this pop into my world. This list comes from Real Simple and it too arrived in my in box! Here are their tips for giving yourself a quick boost of energy
1. Get enough sleep. If you never wake up before the alarm blasts, you need to go to bed earlier. People become accustomed to the feeling of being sleep deprived, but they don’t really adapt to it. Make getting enough sleep a top priority. My bestest best recently told me about a study in which those who consistently got 8-9 hours of sleep were happier more productive people. I really try to get the sleep I need but I battle insomnia on a regular basis so that makes it a bit difficult. I am looking for natural or holistic solution because I am not really comfortable with taking a prescription.
2. Go for a brisk walk. One study found that even a 10-minute walk was enough to supply a feeling of energy and decreased tension. Not to mention the health benefits involved - I definitely need to get moving
3. Listen to your favorite upbeat song. Hearing stimulating music gives an instant lift. Along the same lines…
4. Sing out loud. It’s hard to feel grouchy when you’re singing — and the goofier the song, the better. Think I’ll do 3 and 4 together and I bet I could talk one of the kids into joining me 
5. Take a short nap, if you’re the napping type. Many people find them very energizing. My father has been known to take three naps in one day. I am thinking that this is something I need to steer clear from. My ’short’ naps can easily turn into hours long because i find it hard to wake up and napping does not help my insomnia!
6. Act energetic. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up. Acting energetic will make you feel more energetic. Does this fall along the lines of “fake it till you make it” ?
7. Along the same lines, spend time with energetic people. People catch the moods of other people, and energy (or lack of energy) is highly contagious. When in Rome…
8. Talk to friends. I’ve noticed that if I’m feeling low, and I run into a friend on the street, I walk away feeling much more energetic. Reach out if you need a boost. I never run into a friend on the street which requires me to actually call someone and that makes me feel like I am burdening someone and would mean that I am asking for help and that is so not an easy thing for me to do. I need to work on that too!
9. Cross a nagging chore off your to-do list to get a big rush of energy. Unfinished tasks drag us down, so force yourself to tackle one thing that’s nagging you to get a huge rush of energy. This is so true. I just need to remember how well it works and usually after I cross one thing off, I am eager to get started on another!
10. Make your bed. It doesn’t take much time or thought, and it provides a feeling of serenity and control when you come home at night. I am never one to make my bed. Perhaps it has to do with being forced asked to do it growing up… but at the very least i like to turn the sheets and covers half way down and it looks nice until one of us jumps on it.
11. Make something right. Apologize, confess, repair, replace, or return something you borrowed. This might go along with #9 but I like the twist of taking care of inner business.
12. Go outside into the sunlight. Light deprivation is one reason why people feel tired. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. I love the sunshine but don’t forget the sunscreen.
13. Clean up. I’m not sure why tidying makes such a huge difference, but when I feel like I can’t face the day, I just tidy up my desk, and I perk right up. More than feeling energetic, getting rid of the clutter makes me less cranky. I am horrible at organization but I am working on it and the thing I need to do more than anything is continue getting rid of the things that I don’t use love anymore.
14. Drink some coffee! Coffee gets a bad rap, but the fact is, it really does boost alertness, energy, and ability to focus. (Plus, it’s a great source of antioxidants and it contains a high level of soluble dietary fiber.) I am not a coffee drinker but I do know that it would be a much better way to get my caffeine fix than drinking diet coke.
Gretchen Rubin blogs about happiness, among other topics, for Real Simple’s Simply Stated. Her book The Happiness Project (Harper Collins) is due out in 2009.
May 2008
What a fantastic list!
Wish I could get more sleep at night but lately the baby’s teething. Argh! But I like that there are 13 other things (well, 12 since I don’t drink coffee) I can try. (Okay, naps are probably out, too. So eleven!!)