Reduce Stress
Feelings of stress can mean that you struggle to concentrate, experience racing thoughts, difficulty switching off and tiredness.
Strategies to improve your energy levels include taking some time for yourself to relax, reading or going for a walk.
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Lack of sleep can result in you feeling lethargic, grumpy and tired. If you often feel this way, you may want to consider whether you’re getting enough sleep.
Try and aim for around 7 hours of quality sleep per night. Wind down from your day with relaxing behaviors before bed.
One study found that sedentary people with persistent, unexplained fatigue decreased their tiredness by around 65% just by regularly participating in low-intensity cycling.
Get up and move your body like brisk walking or cycling to boost your energy levels.
The smoke from cigarettes is extremely harmful. The toxins and tar in the smoke reduce the efficiency of your lungs. Over time, this can reduce the amount of oxygen transported around your body, making you feel tired.
Quitting smoking is great for both your energy levels and your health.
Regularly drinking alcohol before bed can interfere with the quality of your sleep. Alcohol can also act as a diuretic, meaning that if you drink it before bed it can make you get up at night, disturbing your sleep.
If you drink regularly, limiting the amount of alcohol you consume could help improve your energy levels.
If you’re eating a lot of processed foods high in sugar and fat, you may find that they affect your energy levels as well as your health.
Choose whole, nutritious foods to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function at its best.
High-sugar foods cause your blood sugar to rise quickly, sometimes referred to as a blood sugar spike. This results in your body releasing large amounts of insulin to bring your blood sugar back down. This rise and fall in blood sugar are what cause a rush of energy followed by a slump.
Minimize your intake of sugar and focus on eating whole foods instead.
Dehydration can affect your brain function, mood and energy levels.
If you feel tired and don’t think you drink enough water, try drinking it regularly throughout the day to ensure you stay hydrated.
Social isolation can cause low mood and tiredness, especially as you get older.
If you feel tired and in low spirits, it can be helpful to get out socializing with friends, joining a social club or starting a new hobby that gets you out and about.
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Overwork is one of the main reasons for fatigue. It can include professional, family and social obligations.
Try to streamline your list of "must-do" activities. Set your priorities and pare down the less important tasks. Consider asking for extra help.
Capsaicin, found in peppers, can boost your metabolism. At acceptable doses, pepper can burn ten additional calories per meal.
Eating lots of protein is essential for staving off fatigue, especially early in the day when your cortisol levels are high.
- Breakfast: eat eggs, a slice of ham or add protein powder to your oatmeal. Otherwise, you eat only carbohydrates and you'll crash early.
- Eat every three to four hours. Snacks like fruit and nuts, string cheese, a couple of scoops of cottage cheese or even beef jerky will satiate your hunger and boost energy levels.