Stay Charged

Ever feel like you hit a brick wall partway through your day? If so, you're not alone. I find myself running out of energy more often than I would like. It feels like energy just gets knocked out of my body and then I spend the rest of the day limping my way to bed. The key, in my opinion, to avoiding this midday crash, is energy. 

Having energy is not only useful but it is vital in completing a successful day. Once you burn out, what you do will have less impact, be it in a classroom or a workplace. You need to invest energy in what you do to make it successful.

To avoid this crash I have gathered a few tips on energy retention/refueling that I think will be useful if you also struggle with this problem. 

1. Go Breakfast or Go Home. 

Every health article I've read has placed importance on breakfast. It gives you energy to start your day and is good for your metabolism because it makes it work early on. 

2. Protein Up

On a similar note of healthy breakfasts - having protein in your diet is also important. Protein keeps you full longer; therefore, the more protein you consume, the less you'll need to eat and the longer your energy will last. 

3. Chill Out

If you have a break time or driving time during your day, use it to give yourself a chance to reenergize. Listen to music, close your eyes and do some deep breathing, but actually give your brain a chance to catch up with the day. 

4. Caffeine

I might be caffeine's number one fan. Never under appreciate the power of a latte. If you're in a crunch for time and need to refuel quickly, have a good ole cup of joe. You can't go wrong with coffee.

5. Catch Those Zzzzs 

I recently read an article from TIME Magazine that my father recommended for me all about the importance of sleep. The author, Alice Park, wrote an article called "The Power of Sleep" and to simply condense the whole article, when you sleep the brain cleans itself almost. When you don't get enough sleep, your brain has extra mess to deal with and you won't accomplish anything as efficiently. I highly recommend you read the article if you get a chance, however, if you don't get a chance to read it at least sleep more. Aim for 8-9 hours a night friends. Good luck. 

6. Think It

Ever heard of mind over matter? Well I think that a portion of energy can be controlled mentally. Tell yourself not just WHAT you have to do but WHY you have to do it and what good it will produce. It can transform having to pick up groceries into thinking about a dinner party you'll be having in a few days or trying out that new recipe you saw on Pinterest. Don't forget about the outcome of what you do and the importance it has on society. On a similar note, if you find yourself feeling weary and overworked and cannot think of a good "why" for how you got there, I suggest cutting back. Not everything and everyone deserves your time. 

Stay charged up and live happily.

Love,

Ashlyn