I am a busy business owner, mother of 2, wife, chief cook and bottle washer, who keeps the house, does the grocery shopping, works out daily, and cooks all the family’s food from scratch. Think I’m tired? The truth is that my eyes fly open at 5:30am every morning with no alarm, and I buzz and hum with energy all day long with no caffeine-crutch. Want to know how I do it?
Here are my top 10 tips on raising your energy level through the roof:
1. Ditch the Coffee
I call coffee “fake fuel” because it really hides the fact that without it, you’re utterly exhausted. Your body uses fatigue to tell you that something is wrong. Coffee’s just a blindfold hiding the real problem. Not only that, caffeine burns out your adrenal glands, which will cause even worse fatigue and stubborn weight gain down the road. When you drink a cup of coffee, it’s like sticking your finger in an electric socket. Your adrenal glands pump out adrenaline, your fight or flight hormone, which causes that alertness you crave, along with rapid heart rate, dilated pupils and increased blood pressure. Your body thinks a bear is chasing you. Stress anyone??
2. Sleep
Now that you’re off the joe, you can ascertain what your baseline energy level is. Chances are, you’re fatigued because your not getting enough sleep. Most people don’t get enough sleep just because they are not in the habit of going to bed early, or they don’t manage their time well (tv and computer usage go here), or they indulge in too many late night social commitments. While the one-off wedding or party shouldn’t cause too much trouble, booking your schedule so tightly that you are out every night is draining your energy and lowering your vitality. It’s OK to RSVP “No” sometimes.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule of early to bed and early to rise and you will have loads of energy! Resist the urge to sleep in when time allows – you know that just makes you groggier.
An aside to the sleep-deprived parents of little ones: I know this lack of sleep is not your fault. My youngest didn’t sleep through the night until he was FOUR, so you’ve got my empathy. Just know this time will come to an end eventually. Hang in there and sleep whenever you can.
Many people complain to me that they cannot fall asleep earlier. Do everything else on this list and then get back to me. I can tell you, that on the days I don’t exercise vigorously, I too have trouble drifting off.
3. Exercise
I don’t care if you workout at the gym, on the roads or by cleaning the house and tending a garden. Pushing yourself physically makes you fall into a deep, restful sleep at night. Plus it gives you energy, oxygen and vitality during the day.
4. Assess Your Commitments
Most of my clients are women who take the weight of the world on their shoulders and then berate their bodies for giving out under the burden. I honestly have to give these ladies PERMISSION to stop taking on every single responsibility under the sun! This is called Martyr Syndrome and not only does no one like a martyr (despite your conviction to the contrary), martyrs freakin DIE before their time, ladies! Let other people do their share and you do yours, divided up nice and equally with a piece for all.
5. Quit your job
Didn’t expect that one, did you? If you love your job, then never mind, this one’s not for you. But so often we are exhausted by dreading the day or the task ahead of us. Of course, work probably won’t be fun all the time, but it’s not meant to be horrible all the time either. I’ve got so many clients who think they are trapped in dreadful, stressful jobs – maybe they are a few years away from retirement, or on the other spectrum just need to keep their noses to the grindstone to pay off school loans, or whatever. As the Reigning Queen of Thinking Outside the Career Box, I am here to tell you to go ahead and think outside the career box. There’s plenty of interesting work to do which people will pay you for. The biggest part of my A.M. vitality is being totally excited about the day ahead of me!
6. Hydrate
We’ve already discussed this one here. Most people walk around dried up and dehydrated. Drink lots of water. Now that you’re off coffee, you can drink water instead.
7. Get outside
Fresh air does a world of good. Step out at lunchtime, take a walk in the evening, get up early and meditate in the grass while the sun rises. Breathe!
8. Get more oxygen
Yawning means your brain needs oxygen. Next time you are hit with a wave of fatigue, take 5-10 deep breaths. Extra points for doing it outside.
9. Eat Whole Foods
You knew I would say this. Junk food drains you, whole foods energize you. Read the rest of my website and enough said about that.
10. Go get a blood test
Tell your doctor you are experiencing fatigue and ask to have your iron, B-12, and thyroid tested. Go the extra mile and get your hormones tested too. Many women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep when their hormones are out-of-whack. If you’re following a low-carb diet and you’re tired all the time, then your B-vitamins are probably depleted. Get it checked, supplement, and eat some brown rice for Pete’s sake.
11. Bonus (and Shameless Plug): DETOX! My 30-Day Detox is a great way to get that energy flowing! New group starting June 22nd at 11am (New Time) in Kfar Saba. Click HERE.
Overwhelmed? Just pick ONE THING and start with improving it one step at a time. In no time, you’ll be bouncing off the walls with the best of us!































