5 Ways to Boost Your Energy When You’re Tired

By Julia Mullaney, The Cheat Sheet

You probably have a night every once in a while where you don’t get much sleep. Maybe you drank coffee too late the previous day or stayed up later than you should have to watch an episode of your favorite show. You wake up exhausted the next morning but need to pretend you’re not — and that’s easier said than done. But here are five ways you can boost your energy to get through the day when you’re tired.



1

Make sure you eat breakfast

They don’t call it the most important meal of the day for no reason. Breakfast is a great way to get fuel into your body through food. Avocado on whole wheat toast will give your body a dose of protein and complex carbs. The complex carbs will break down slowly, releasing energy to help you get through your day. If you didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before, the best way to supplement that lack of energy is to get it through food.



2

Get your blood pumping

If you have time, take a morning walk before starting your day. Exercise gets your blood circulating, which can give you a nice boost of energy. Don’t go out and run 10 miles — that may have the adverse effect. Low-intensity exercise, such as a morning walk or jogging in place for a few minutes while you watch your favorite morning show, can have a big impact on your energy levels. Exercising regularly can also help lower feelings of chronic fatigue.



3

Don’t keep yourself in the dark

If you work in an office, make sure you keep the shades open. Keeping your body in the dark will trigger your brain into wanting to go back to sleep. But if you let the sunshine in, your brain will understand that it’s daytime and that you need to be awake. If you work in a generally dark place, spend just a few minutes outside before heading into work to get your brain to understand that it’s morninge, not bedtime. You can kill two birds with one stone by taking a morning walk, which will get your blood pumping and get you into the daylight.



4

Meditate

Start off your day by clearing your mind (just make sure you don’t fall back asleep mid-meditation). Relaxing your mind can make you more excited to take on the day. Feeling overwhelmed can make you less interested in tackling all of the tasks you need to get done, and if you’re already feeling tired, you won’t be very productive. Putting your mental health first will help liven you up and get you ready for what is to come.



5

Drink water

This is something that requires very minimal effort but can produce serious results. Staying hydrated can make you feel more alert and less foggy. When your body isn’t hydrated, it will feel sluggish, which will only add to the fatigue. Staying hydrated allows blood to travel through your body more efficiently, which gives you an overall feeling of being more awake. Next time you want to fall asleep, reach for a glass of water instead.


See more at: The Cheat Sheet