10 Simple Ways to Increase Energy

Most of us wake up in the morning with a dreary and dreamy state that makes us wish for that extra 30 minutes of sleep, that button hit for "sleep mode", or counting down those minutes until work ends and we can hit the sack once more. Rinse, Wash, Repeat.

There are plenty of different ways to extend the energy that you feel each day, here are a few:

1. Obviously - Get more sleep.

One of the biggest issues with people, with our time out of the office we will continue to work, finishing up that last project until wee hours of the night. Playing that video game we just bought, but haven't had the time to play. Try going to bed an hour earlier each night, and waking up 30 minutes before you usually do. This gives you a half an extra hour to sleep, plus wakes you up earlier in the morning to finish up anything you tried to cram into the night before. Keep rolling back the time until you are sleeping at the desired schedule and waking up feeling refreshed.

2. Don't overschedule!

Taking on way too many tasks when you just don't have the extra time not only increases your stress levels, but it also burns you out much more quickly. Take your time on those new projects, and make sure the ones that you are currently on get the invested time that they deserve.

3. Take the time to stretch.

Taking a few minutes a couple of times a day to stretch can increase the blood flow throughout your body and, in turn, increase your energy levels. It also helps to move around, to get out of that chair and stretch those muscles out. It helps you relax mentally too, especially if you spend all day working in front of a computer screen, which can cause mental fatigue.

4. Take vitamins.

Sometimes all it takes is a quick multivitamin once daily. Some of us decide to take them in different forms. Liquid vitamins, pills, whatever fits your needs. Sometimes its better to have vitamins all in separate containers. A bottle for Vitamin C, one for B12, ect. This day you can mix and match the different ones that you need throughout that day. Vitamin B and Vitamin C can increase your energy and your immune system. Two efficient ones, indeed!

5.Stop stimulating yourself!

Stimulation, especially when it is constant, can wear us out very, very quickly. Sleep without the TV on, don't drink much alcohol before sleep, and try to spend some time by yourself simply breathing and relaxing. A moment alone to calm your mind can have extremely beneficial effects on how your body will work throughout the rest of the day. Instead of just eating and getting errands done on that lunch break, try sitting down and following your breath. It's a very simple way to distract your mind from the constant plunder of stimulation.

6. Eat better.

A lot of us continue the fast rush of life with fast food. Pizzas, TV dinners, that craving for Taco Bell at 3 in the morning. These types of food are just empty, they aren't filled with the nutrients your body and brain need to fuel itself for 10 or more hours a day. Switch to salads, grilled foods, cook a meal for yourself at night instead of relying on McDonald's value menu. Sometimes this isn't an option, especially with money and the economy in a bad place, but if you get the chance changing your diet can have a real impact on your life.

7. Mix it up!

Change up your daily routine. Instead of using that day off to finish every little thing on your list, use it to complete a few of the easier tasks, and then go treat yourself to a REAL day off. Go to the beach, walk around a lake, eat at a new dine-in restaurant, go hiking, whatever your hobbies include. Sometimes it involves creating a new hobby that you have never done before. If you're extreme enough, this could include anything from rock climbing to skydiving!

8. Listen to Relaxation.

Instead of cranking up your radio to stimulate your ears and mind with hard guitar riffs and deep bass lines with crashing drums, try a more relaxing tune. Sit down with some jazz music, try some new age, listen to birds chirping and water running. The sound of a whale can have very soothing effects. Relaxing music can dim down the chatterbox in your head and leave you feeling as if you've gained something from it, instead of exerting more energy into it.

9. Be Grateful!

Be nice- Literally! Smile throughout the day, compliment people. Whether it be on how nice their car is, to the more subtle things such as ear rings, watches, or hair cuts. People's days are often changed by someone noticing THEM as opposed to all of their own flaws and dismissals. It passes along too! People will take that compliment and pass it to others, and who knows, it may end up coming back to the place it began. Like The Beatles said - All you need is Love!

10. Exercise!

Yes, the 10 minutes of stretching you have been doing throughout the day is good, but a rigorous 20 or 30 minute exercise can do wonders for many things. You body will change, you become more in shape. It can help break addictions such as smoking, or drinking too much. This isn't just physical though, your mind takes a part in it. Exercise releases endorphins and works out the stress in your body. This all relates back to the brain, relieving it of tension, creating a more relaxed mind and making you more happy and energetic. Not to mention the confidence boost that goes along with taking care of your body. People will take notice, read number 9 again!

These are just 10 simple ways to boost your energy and your happiness in life. There are countless others, and you should always do what is comfortable to you, and what helps you the most. Committing to trying some of these things can also increase your thought pattern to other hobbies and such to improve your life.

This is your life, this is the only one you get, why don't we make the most of it, and LIVE!