22 Oct Energy: Ten Ways to Have More!

Boost your energy with these 10 smart strategies. I’m a fellow traveler with you in searching for ways to maintain buoyant energy throughout the day—without relying heavily on caffeine or sugar, which eventually pull us down. Add a few of these to your regimen this week, and let me know your results!

Energy: My Top Ten

1. Eat high-energy foods. Eat more raw veggies and especially leafy greens. Cut back on those high carb choices like potatoes and pasta. Make a game of it: at each meal think, “How can I add raw veggies to what I’m eating?” Usually I can add in something like avocado, chopped-up carrots, or shredded greens, and even mix these into whatever I’m eating.

2. Drink eight glasses of water each day. I know, I know – you’ve heard it before, but try it and see what happens! I’ve found I can’t rely on my thirst to let me know when my body needs water.

3. Get seven – eight hours of sleep each night. Leave a 3 x 5 card next to your bed and record how many hours you slept when you wake you up each morning. If you’re like me, you might be surprised at how many times you sleep six hours or less. And take a nap when your body asks for it – even highly productive people like Michael Hyatt recommend this.

4. Avoid energy – depleting people. If you can’t avoid them, lower your dosage. Find ways to spend less time with them. If it’s someone really close to you, like a spouse, go for counseling to switch up this energy – depleting dynamic.

5. Feed your brain. Garbage in, garbage out. Find things that stimulate your mind and are life-giving for you: books, magazines, blogs. Expand your horizons in this arena!

6. Prioritize spending time with people who energize you. Right now, think of two people who make you feel happy and uplifted. Why not set up one or two times monthly to get together? You can Skype with them if they live in another location.

7. Move your body. If you sit a lot during the day, set a timer to walk around for five minutes every hour – walk outside if you can. And definitely prioritize exercise into your daily routine. If you’re just starting out, go for a twenty minute walk four times weekly, preferably outdoors. Don’t use cold weather as an excuse to not exercise. Join my indoor walking club – when outdoor conditions are bad, I’ll do a combination of walking and dancing around even a small apartment for 30 – 45 minutes. Yes, it’s highly entertaining for my family.

8. Do a little something you love each day. Whether it’s reading, photography, a sport, or playing a musical instrument — try to do at least twenty minutes of it daily. If you need ideas of things to do, check out my blog entry entitled My Secret List of Fun.

9. Maintain a positive attitude. My new book is coming out in early November with specific, small, daily exercises designed to retrain your brain toward positivity. It’s called Retrain Your Brain for Joy: Thirty – One Mini Adventures. Follow me on my Facebook page through this link.  I’ll let you know as soon as the book is released! Of course, I’ll share the news with you on this website as well.

10. Connect with God. Wherever you are on your journey, whether you’re seeking to learn about Him or you’re a seasoned follower, energize yourself through spiritual connection on a daily basis. Check out this link to stimulate your thinking.

Energy: Zoom Zoom Zoom Around the Room Room Room

Higher energy levels = more joy in your life = greater effectiveness in the things that are important to you. Our lifestyles are often like hamster wheels going round and round, keeping us feeling depleted. Join me in making healthy choices that keep us energized for all the good things we want to do on this planet!

Question: What would you add to this list that helps you?