4 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Levels

Got the winter “blahs”? Boost your energy levels naturally with these 4 simple tips…

Do the depths of winter leave you feeling “blah” and low-energy? There are a number of things which can ultimately cause you to feel a lack of energy – including the low light levels of the winter months. However, it could also be the result of a health condition, your diet, your general lifestyle, or a temporary illness. It can sometimes be difficult to ascertain the reasons for feeling low energy, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. Just like there are various factors that could be causing the issue, there are also plenty of things you can try in order to boost your energy levels and feel like your young and vibrant self again!

Here are a few simple things you can do – starting right now:

1. Get better quality sleep

You should consider how much sleep you’re getting each day, and try to figure out how good the quality of your sleep is. Some of the things to look out for are:

• Struggling to fall asleep when you go to bed, even if you’re feeling tired
• Waking up once or more throughout the night on a regular basis
• Feeling tired when you wake up, even after 7-8+ hours of sleep

While this is not an exhaustive list, these are the main signs that you aren’t getting enough good quality sleep. When you sleep, your body has a chance to re-energise and rebalance, and failure to do this adequately can leave you lacking energy throughout the day.

2. Drink more water

You could be feeling a lack of energy because you’re dehydrated. You should aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day if you have a regular BMI, and even more if you’re overweight. Not drinking enough water can cause headaches, water retention and other medical issues which can in turn all contribute to a loss of energy.

3. Exercise regularly

If you’re not feeling very energetic, exercise might be the last thing you want to do. However, regular exercise can help to boost your energy levels. If you don’t have enough energy, you don’t need to start a rigorous exercise regime. You can begin by walking at least 2500 steps per day. Even just a short walk around the block on a cold winter day can be invigorating – just be sure to bundle up! Or try a gentle yoga routine at home. Or, you can spend 15 minutes at the gym or doing a home workout, and gradually increase this to at least 30 minutes. The key is to stay consistent and exercise regularly – aim for 4-5 times per week of moderate exercise.

4. Limit your sugar intake

Focusing on getting the nutrients your body needs and avoiding sugar can go a long way to boosting your energy levels. A natural, balanced diet with moderate levels of quality protein, healthy fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats has many health benefits for your body and mind, including helping to modulate your energy levels. Sugar can be tempting when you’re feeling low as it can give you a temporary boost, but this will be quickly followed by a crash which could deplete you of energy for the rest of the day, so for most people, the less sugar (and other processed foods) you eat, the better you’ll feel.

These are 4 good steps to start with if you are feeling low energy, but if you implement all of these consistently for several months and aren’t feeling better, it might be time to seek help from a professional to rule out any serious health concerns.