I live for coffee. I start my day off with coffee. After my first cup, I immediately start thinking about my next cup. In the afternoon, when I hit the 3:00 p.m. slump, I head to the coffeemaker, fill up a cup, top it off with 1/2 and 1/2, and cross my fingers that it kicks in to hold me over until I find myself crawling into bed. Early mornings, jam-packed days full of work and watching my toddler, and late nights have me running on fumes for the greater part of the day. I’m constantly in search of ways to help me stay energized throughout the day to avoid being sluggish and unmotivated.
I know that relying on coffee isn’t the best way to stay energized. From getting enough sleep to drinking plenty of water to giving yourself a break, there are plenty of ways to make sure that you can keep your energy levels high throughout the day.
5 Ways to Stay Energized
1.) Be Mindful of Your Body
As they say, what you get out of it is what you put in it. When we’re busy, we rarely make time for ourselves. It’s hard to eat healthy, exercise, drink plenty of water, get rest … need I go on? Every day, I’m pulled in a million different directions. Before I know it, the hours fly by and I find myself trying to figure out how I’m going to get through my to do list. But, I’m starting to learn that I need to make time for myself. Eating healthy has always been a priority. I never drink enough water, I get only a few hours of sleep a night, and my body is craving exercise. Yes, I chase a toddler around all day but I need to run. A few weeks ago, I looked at my husband and said, “I need to get running shoes.” My body was craving a good run. It’s been a few weeks and still my new running shoes sit in the closet in the box. I need to focus on being more mindful of what my body craves. Eat your fruits and veggies, drink water, exercise, and most importantly, be kind to your body.
2.) Schedule in Playtime
Before I had my son, I parked myself behind the computer and worked all day, every day, seven days a week. I was quite the workaholic. Throw an almost two-year-old into the mix and I quickly found out that playtime is refreshing not only for him but also for me. Throughout the day, I take breaks with him to go outside and shoot hoops, go for a walk, play with a football, chase the dogs, go to the park, spend time on the swings, go down the slide … fresh air and playtime go hand-in-hand. Playtime is the perfect way to escape cabin fever, get fresh air, relieve stress, and stay balanced. Find an activity that you love and make sure you add that item to your to do list every day.
3.) Find a Creative Outlet
Before I started this blog, I found myself craving a creative outlet. I was going to work day in and day out as I tried to schedule in time to hang out with family and friends. I’ve always been into arts, crafts, music, writing, cooking, and photography. I needed a place where I could expand and challenge my creativity at my own pace … and that’s when I started this site. Over the years, this site has grown into a place where I can truly be creative and feed my creative cravings. When times get stressed, I turn this site and write. People often ask, “How do you make time for your blog?” That’s easy. I’m passionate about it so I make time … no matter what. Find something you’re passionate about and make time for it. Make it be your creative outlet and you’ll feel more energy (even if you are adding more to your plate).
4.) Give Yourself a Break
Yes, I need to listen to my own advice. I can hardly ever sit still. I’m always on the go. My mind is always racing. My to do list is always filling up with line item after line item. Today, while I was on a walk with my son, we went to the swings. I placed him in the toddler swing and he pointed at the “big kid” swing for me to sit in it and join him during swing time. I gave him one big push and then sat in “big kid” swing. I took a deep breath, tried to rid myself of the stresses of the day, looked over at my smiling son, and allowed myself to take a break and enjoy the moment. I felt like a new person on the walk home from the swings. When I got home, I felt energized.
5.) Find Balance
I’ve always struggled with finding a work / life balance. It’s hard for me to draw the line, especially since I’m a work-at-home, stay-at-home mom. As long as I have a computer and phone, I can work. Get your job down but also find time for pleasure. If you’re not feeling 100%, then both your work life and home life will suffer. Work toward figuring out when to turn work on and when to turn it off. Go unplugged for a bit. Take a breather. It’s not easy and you might not ever find the right balance. But, as long as you work toward it, you’ll start to see yourself feeling more energized since you’re setting up time for work, family, friends, pleasures, breaks, playtime, etc.
What are your favorite ways to stay energized?
Photos via StockSnap.io.
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