Coping with a perpetual sense of fatigue can be as frustrating as it is discouraging. You should take it as a sign that something needs to change if you’re constantly saying, “I’m tired”. Whether it’s existential exhaustion or your run of the mill lag from the daily grind, there are some things you can do to boost your energy throughout the day. Boosting your energy level is really only a matter of finding the method that works for you.
1. Avoid Burnout
Burnout is the inevitable crash of energy and interest that comes when you are overworked or stretching yourself too thin on obligations. If you think about it, there’s really only so much time you have each day and even fewer pieces of yourself that you can give away to attend to this or that obligation.
If you’re feeling burnout, you’re more likely to be less productive, have more irritation, and may even experience physical symptoms, such as headaches or body aches. And the worst thing about burnout? It can come back.
So, what can you do to avoid burn out? You might try:
-
- Prioritizing obligations
- Reducing work
- Scheduling self-care
- Take a day off
- Learn to say “No”
- Ask for help
2. Manage Stress
Managing stress is different from avoiding burnout. For one thing, there are certain types of stress that are unavoidable, such as taking care of dependents, paying bills, running errands, and going to work or school. For another, being stressed doesn’t necessarily mean you will be burned out.
In fact, stress has many noteworthy health implications. Overall, prolonged amounts of stress can be bad for your wellbeing. A recent study showed that stress is linked to cardiovascular disease, migraines, gastrointestinal issues, sleep disturbance, and loss of sexual interest. Chronic stress has even been linked to a higher likelihood of being more frequently ill.
Stress is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you have to learn to live with an enormous amount of it! There are several ways you can manage stress, which may include:
-
- Mindfulness exercise
- Mental health days
- Meditation
- Breathing exercises
- Limit social media
- Avoiding work outside of work hours
- Peer support
3. Eat Complex Carbs
We know food gives us the energy – and the calories – we need to get through the day, but are there foods that can help increase energy? It turns out that the right diet can actually give you more energy. Aside from eating balanced meals throughout the day, you might consider incorporating more complex carbs into your diet.
According to Harvard Medical School, complex carbs take longer for the body to break down, which means the conversion of that food into energy lasts longer. Foods with complex carbs are usually unprocessed or unrefined, such as whole grains, nuts, beans, and fruits or vegetables that are high in fiber.
