Energy – the natural resource in shortest supply, especially for the 100 million Americans who are suffering from chronic or incurable illness. Just thinking of everyone who needs you can sap out what little energy you have left. Maybe you feel like you can’t possibly get it all done. But you know you HAVE to. People depend on you everyday.
Your family. Your friends. Your co-workers. Your clients. Even your pets! To meet the demands of life today, you can’t afford to have your energy depleted. So here are a few ways to easily boost those levels right away.
- Breathe. I was speaking with a friend yesterday who has Lyme disease. He is so ill he literally cannot exercise. He was depressed. I suggested he go out his door (get as bundled up as necessary) and close the door. Take in deep breaths for 10 minutes. He could not believe how much better he felt. If where you are is smoggy, or if you have no way you will get outside, get an air cleanser and you will have the benefits of the negative ions anyway.
- Exercise is the energy creator. Move your body, no matter how little. If you fail to even move your ankle or wrist joints around in circles, imagine yourself doing it. You know you need it, so why fight it? Take a walk, even if it’s winter. If you can’t walk outside, walk in a mall. Stretch. Elongate those tight muscles. Dance! Put on your favourite music and move around (again if you fail to move even minimally imagine yourself doing this.) It feels so good. If you’re bedridden or for some other reason can’t exercise today, at least visualize doing it in your mind. We all know nothing goes right unless we are coached properly or somebody is there to watch our actions and prepare a roadmap for us. That’s exactly where an Eagle Ridge Fitness Personal Trainer can assist you as well.
- Pump up your energy in your attitude. Think of life as a school. When you quit learning, you begin dying. Open your mind; learn something new every day. Make it a game! Write down your new find in a spiral notebook – nothing fancy. It’s fun to look back and see how much more knowledge you’ve captured over time.
5. Clutter – The silent Energy Sucker. You’ve heard it before – what’s externally is a reflection of what’s on the inside. Surrounded by clutter? It has a real physical effect on your energy levels. Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask you to clean out your garage or over-stuffed closet all at once. Set a timer and just take 15 minutes a day to declutter your space. It’s all about baby steps. - What goes in shows on the outside? Keep your water intake high. Studies show lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue. In fact, a mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. Thirsty yet?
- Let it go. There is a direct relationship between buried anger and your energy levels. Holding onto a grudge or not moving on in your lifetime hurts you more than it hurts anyone else. It only helps you physically and energetically to acknowledge that people have their limitations. If you were hurt, you do not have to trust that person again. Ritualize it instead! Write his or her name on an item of paper. Pour all of your painful thoughts into that paper. Now destroy it. Burn it. Drown it. Rip it up. Don’t you feel better? Forgiving and letting go is a selfish act you do to make yourself feel better. Be a little selfish!