I plop down on my couch and look with disbelief at the calendar. It’s Thursday. The hot summer air means I am already sweating like a pig. The work week seems to have flown by, with events and projects. I am hot and tired. Not a good combination for writing or putting together a blog post. I don’t know about you but when I am tired I just want to veg on the couch, not write. So how can we be better at this whole personal energy thing?
The first big grouping of things you can do to pick up your energy is physical. Yes, no one likes to hear it (especially in the heat down here in the south) but exercise is key to keeping your energy up. For a long time this confused me, when I exercised I did not feel like doing anything else, at all. However, it wasn’t until I cut out exercise altogether to focus on finishing up some writing projects, that I felt the real difference. I was even more tired and even more lazy when I was not getting some form of physical exercise. Maintaining our physical health will give us a boost throughout the day, we will be stronger and more active the healthier we become.
It is very important to remember that I am talking about moderate exercise. You can’t expect to crank out P90X, or run ten miles and then have the energy to write, especially if you are not used to that level of activity. If you are already a marathon runner, then I don’t need to tell you that the first time you laced up your running shoes you didn’t go out and break records. Keep your current level of physical activity in mind and work on improving it bit by bit. Establish a goal and work towards it. You sit in a chair all day? Take a break and go on a brisk walk every couple of hours. Work in an office building? Take the stairs. We don’t all need to be body builders, but we do need to be active.
Another factor to consider is what are you eating? Is it a lot of junk food with empty calories? Is it stuff that is full of fat? There is a time and a place for doughnuts but not every day (glorious, glorious Fridays!). If I were to list the latest advise for what is healthy to eat it would be wrong before you read this, so let’s generalize shall we? Whether you eat three meals a day or six, the important thing is to not over do it. I remember when I first started cooking for myself I wanted to eat everything. I had to learn moderation. Not every meal needs to be a feast. Try to find foods that fill you up and leave you satisfied. This will go a long way in helping you avoid snacking aimlessly. If you have to snack find something that scratches your food itch (pretzels!) and put them in a small bowl instead of eating them straight out of the bag.
Now for my favorite advise to give out, get some sleep! Because sleep is totally awesome! I am not talking about naps, I am talking about real, honest sleep. It seems like Americans can never get enough sleep. Yet our sleep routine is just as important as our exercise regimen. Why? Here’s a partial list, sleep helps us lose weight, reduces inflammation, reduces stress, helps keep a healthy heart and boosts memory. Convinced yet? The problem is that most of us don’t get enough sleep. Eight is the standard rule of thumb but it is by no means a hard rule, some of us only need six other people need ten, your body will tell you if you need less or more.
The next time you are feeling tired and groggy try and get a bit of exercise in or have a snack. Keep your body in shape and your mind will follow. If you want to reach for your dreams then you will need to cultivate a lifestyle that will allow you to hold on.