17 Ways to Boost Your Energy Levels
Moms in general get worn out, I think. Many of us neglect ourselves to look after our kids and husband and when you add work to the mix, well, we just get tired. There are times when it’s hard to even think about putting in another five hours of work after the kids are in bed, let alone do it! There are some tricks though, that can help boost your energy . . . and if you have more, feel free to share!
1. Take vitamin supplements. I’ve been anemic since I was a kid, but I’m terrible about taking my iron supplements. The result? I get exhausted, physically and mentally, end up dizzy and need to sleep a lot. Obviously that’s letting it get pretty far, but many women are lacking in vitamins, especially iron, so taking a supplement can really give you that boost in energy by giving your body what it needs.
2. Get down and crawl with the kids. Seriously, there’s nothing like chasing little monsters to make you feel energized. Oh, you won’t feel it in the moment (”Wait, let Mommy rest a minute!”), but when you head back to your desk and sit down, you’ll feel more mentally alert. Try it and see! I just gave my kids piggy back rides and am feeling quite refreshed (though my back is killing me!).
3. Have a green smoothie for breakfast. Ew, right? Not so much. If you like fruit smoothies, try adding a handful of baby spinach to your bananas and strawberries and have it for breakfast. You won’t even taste the greens, I swear. And, after three or four days you will really notice a jump in your energy levels. Want more information? Check out the Green Smoothie Blog.
4. Try aromatherapy. There are all kinds of ways to incorporate alert scents into your environment. Candles
5. Cleaning. Speaking of wiping and disinfectant, cleaning a part of your house can actually wake you up, too! Clutter tends to affect us negatively and wears us down more, so just by clearing off your desk, you’ll feel better. Not to mention, the fact that you are up and moving is beneficial, too. Check out the FlyLady for tips on cleaning without being overwhelmed.
6. Take a shower. Nothing like a nice hot shower to relax you and ease away the stress, right? Well, try turning it to cool at the end of your shower, just for 30-60 seconds. It doesn’t have to be icy, but the coolness will let your body know that you need to stay alert.
7. Have some tea. If you’re avoiding caffeine, you can stick to herbal tea like peppermint, which tends to make your eyes pop open again. Or, if you’re like me and will ingest as much caffeine as you can in any given day, go with green tea or regular black. Tea is relaxing and can ease stress, but it will also give you a little bit more energy.
8. Do ten jumping jacks. Need some fast energy when you find yourself nodding off on your keyboard? Get up and do ten jumping jacks or run around the house. It’s a fast way to get that blood pumping!
9. Get more oxygen. As you get tired, you’ll notice that you start to breathe shallower, which means less oxygen is getting to your brain. Stand up and take ten slooooooow, deep breaths and you will feel a lot more energetic.
10. Chill out, literally. Cold wakes us up, which is why splashing cold water on your face works. If you live in a cold area, step outside and enjoy a little icy air. Otherwise, turn on the fan while you work.
11. Take a break. Sometimes your energy levels drop because you’ve been in one position too long or have just gotten bored with what you’re doing. Your mental state can have a big effect on your energy levels. Take a break from work, watch a favorite television show, take a short nap or just do something outside of your routine.
12. Laugh it up. Laughter is a GREAT way to boost your energy! Fortunately, as moms, we have a lot of opportunities to laugh every day, if we remember to take them. If you need a little help in that department, though, try watching a funny video on YouTube, read a funny blog, or just check out a website that makes you laugh.
13. Have a banana. Eating healthily is always a good way to ensure that your energy levels stay high, but bananas are particularly good. They give you a nice bump of energy and are super easy to eat, even while you’re dealing with tantrums and clients . . . plus, you don’t have to feel guilty if your kids see you eating one and want some, too.
14. Drink more water. Do you drink the recommended 8 glasses of water a day? There are a lot of different ideas out there on how much you should REALLY drink, but the fact remains that 8 glasses is a good goal. Most of us are chronically dehydrated at least a little and need more water in our bodies. Even slight dehydration can make you tired, cut brain activity and cause a drop in productivity.
15. Get some sun. If you’re like me, you spend most of the day indoors, on the computer. Even if you’re near a window, that isn’t the same as being out in the sun. There’s no need to sunbathe, just five or ten minutes of standing there with the sun on your skin is a great way to recharge those energy batteries.
16. Know your personality type. This actually does matter! If you are an introvert, you recharge on alone time and being around others drains you. Extroverts need people to recharge and will feel drained if they spend the whole day alone at home. So, it makes sense that if you are an extrovert, you need call someone or set up a coffee date on a regular basis so you can stay energetic. Likewise, if you need alone time to recharge, make sure you get it!
17. Set up snack time. Many moms don’t eat that well at mealtimes. We end up picking at the kids’ food, or not being able to eat because we have to deal with spills and unhappy kids, getting people off to school and work and eating kind of falls by the wayside. That’s why you should make sure to have a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack (healthy ones, of course) to keep your blood sugar up and avoid that lousy in-between meals drop in energy.
Do you have any tricks for boosting energy levels? Share them in the comments!
This is an article that I really needed to read because I just feel so WORN out with all the stress and the things I need to do.. and fulfill as a mother and breadwinner.
I hope you found some solutions, Jans. It is very hard sometimes to take on so many roles!
Hi
The article was too good and helpful for me,because i use to spend more time in my work place and i feel tired oftenly, this article gave me some ideas to be energitic.
Thank you.
I looked over your list again and again and I simply can’t come up with additional ways to boosting energy levels during the day.
Great list, I am a big fan of your tea suggestion and taking breaks. I read a book on improving memory by Kevin Tredeau, and taking a small 5 minute break after 15 minutes of straight work will absolutely help your energy level, productivity level, and most importantly your ability to retain information.
Excellent tip! Regular breaks are also important for health.
Sometimes managing the household accounts can be stressful.
Doing anything that takes one’s attention from one’s work to something one enjoys can make a big difference.
And when things get too stressful, ask yourself, How important will this be in ten years time.
Well thank you for the info. With my hectic schedule im always stressed and i really need those tips. Thanks again!