Sleep is so important; it is when our bodies get a rest (which is often not possible during the day), and our brains can relax more. This is also when our bodies can regenerate and repair themselves, making us feel happy, healthy, and more productive the next day. A ‘good night’s sleep’ is a real phenomenon that can make all the difference to our lives.
Not getting enough sleep can be a big problem. If it is a chronic issue, a healthcare professional should be consulted since it can lead to many other health problems including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression. It can also be a symptom of other underlying health issues, which is another reason a doctor should be consulted.
Every now and then, however, everyone has a problem with their sleep. They might be worried about a big event the next day such as an exam or a wedding. They might not be tired enough when they go to bed, and, therefore, have trouble sleeping. Maybe they have a young child who doesn’t sleep through the night. Whatever the reason, when we have the odd night here and there where we don’t sleep, we tend to spend the next day feeling groggy and moody and lacking in energy. When this happens, it is important to remember that there are plenty of natural ways to boost your energy to make a tired day a better one.
- Bite A Lemon
This may sound like an amusing idea, but in terms of an instant natural way to increase your energy and wake you up, a lemon can help immensely. Simply cut a lemon into quarters and then quickly bite into one of them. The sharpness of the lemon juice will help you to feel more awake – your eyes will probably open wide as well in addition to your brain suddenly feeling a lot more alert. Some office workers like to keep lemon quarters on their desk so exactly this reason, especially for the afternoons when they have had lunch and their energy is greatly reduced.
- Go For A Walk
The great outdoors is a wonderful and natural way to feel more awake and to give yourself more energy. The walk does not have to be a long one, so anyone, no matter how busy, should be able to fit it into their day if they are feeling tired. In fact, even if you are feeling wide awake, a daily walk is good for you regarding both your physical and your mental health.
If you normally take your car or public transport on short journeys, try walking instead. It will make you feel much better once you arrive at your destination. If you do need to use some means of transport to make your journey, try parking a little farther away at the other end of the parking lot, or on a different block or take the stairs rather than the elevator. There are all kinds of ways you can find during your day to walk and wake yourself up.
- Take Peppermint
Using aromatherapy to give you an energy boost may not be the first thing that comes to your mind. After all, aromatherapy is often used to relax people, using scents such as lavender or jasmine which are known to promote sleep. However, there are other scents which are excellent at waking you up, and peppermint is one of the best as it is so powerful. You can use peppermint in a variety of different ways when you need an energy boost including chewing gum, sucking hard candy, or putting a few drops of peppermint oil onto a handkerchief or tissue to sniff when you are starting to lag.
- Meditate
Meditation has a number of benefits, and it can greatly enhance your life once you know how to use it properly and to your advantage. When done right, meditation can reduce your stress and anxiety levels, help you to think more clearly, and improve productivity. It takes practice to be able to rid your mind of any thoughts, and some people find that relaxing with medicinal cannabis can help to achieve that state. You can find out more on this website.
If you meditate on a regular basis you will automatically know how to keep or improve your focus throughout the day, even if (or particularly because) you are feeling tired due to lack of sleep the night before. It may not make you feel energized as such, but it will help you to get through the day more productively.
- Drink Water
If you are not properly hydrated your energy levels can really drop dramatically, and this combined with a poor night’s sleep can make the day ahead difficult. Therefore, it is important that you drink a lot of water when you are feeling less energized. If you aren’t at home or in your office where you can easily pour yourself a glass of water, make sure you have a water bottle with you. You can buy individual bottles from any store, or you can buy a reusable bottle that you simply need to clean and fill up whenever you go out. To make the water more palatable and to more energizing, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Listen To Music
Music really can affect your mood in all kinds of different ways. If you are feeling as though you are lacking in energy, put on some energetic music and it will make you feel much more awake. There are so many different devices around that will enable you to listen to music wherever you go, and to choose exactly what kind of music you listen to, that this might even be the easiest way to wake up properly. You may even be able to find a playlist that someone else has already created that is ideal for boosting your energy levels.
- Take A Hot And Cold Shower
Which type of shower is it that will wake you up best? Is it hot or cold? The answer is that it is both. Have the water in your shower hot for 30 seconds and then turn it cold for the same amount of time. Do this three or four times and you will feel wide awake and ready to take on the day.