Secrets to Keeping Your Energy Level High All Day Long

Do you have a tendency to lose energy during the day? Do you wonder if you should try those energy drinks...or even pills to help you stay awake at the office? Well, if you're like millions of other people around the world who suffer through the afternoon "dead zone," or lack of energy, take heart...there are natural ways to keep up your energy level.

Just the other day, I was walking back into my office and got in the elevator with a colleague. I noticed that he had a small bottle in his hand. At first I thought it was some sort of spicy hot sauce...because the shape and label on the bottle looked like the type that you would find on a hot sauce bottle. When I asked him what it was, he held it up and said it was a new energy drink. Supposedly, it is sugar free and will not cause a "crash." I don't know how it worked out for him, but it got me thinking. Do people really need these energy drinks or pills to help us get through the day? Do we really have to pump ourselves full of caffeine just to stay awake? Or is there something that can be done naturally? So I decided to do some research and here is what I found. Give these tips a try and you will be able to throw away your energy drinks and pills.

Eat more protein rather than carbohydrates

What you take in as food for your body has a dramatic effect on your health overall. This is no different when it comes to your energy level. Just think about it...if ingesting all sorts of fatty foods can cause your heart to break down, why wouldn't eating unhealthy foods cause your energy level to decrease? It just makes sense. So try the little tip. Instead of loading up on a bunch of carbohydrates during your meals, try eating more protein. Carbohydrates can provide quick "bursts" of energy, but if you eat too much they can cause an energy drain. Recent research has shown that people who replaced a high carbohydrate diet with one high in protein reported having much more energy. Try keeping your daily intake of carbohydrates below 150 grams. And stick to the healthy carbohydrates like vegetables, fruit, whole grain breads, rice, pastas, and cereal.

Forget sleeping in and open up the curtains

Instead of sleeping in, try getting up at the same time each day...even on the weekends. Many of us have a tendency to stay up late on the weekends and then sleep in the following morning. But studies have shown that people have a bodily rhythm governed by the hypothalamus gland, which sort of works like the body's master clock. The first thing you should do when you get up in the morning is to open up the curtains or blinds to let the light in. This will help your body to keep stay in your rhythm. If you have to wake up too early for the sun to be out, especially in the winter months, turn on some bright lights. This will also help. Try to get around 30 minutes of light first thing when you wake up.

Eat your meals at the same time every day

Speaking of bodily rhythms...your body's need for calories is closely tied to the other daily rhythms. This means that you should try to eat your meals at the same time every day, spaced out evenly. Eating at all hours of the day (and night for some people) with no schedule from one day to the next can cause greater hunger and overeating, and eventually a loss of energy. People particularly tend to have a difficult time with breakfast. So here's a tip: make your breakfast the night before, so you can have a consistent meal even when you are on the go.

Try this stress relieving technique

There is no doubt that stress can cause a whole host of health issues. Likewise, stress can also cause your body to have a lack of energy. We all have our own ways of coping with stress, but it can be difficult to do many of those things while at work. For example, if you deal with stress by going to the batting cages, that won't help you when you are sitting in your office all day. Some experts recommend that you try quick "time outs" during the day rather than waiting until you can devote a longer amount of time for your stress relieving activity. You can do this by having quick meditation sessions of 3 to 5 minutes. Find a quiet place where you won't be interrupted. This might mean going outside or even using the restroom. Then close your eyes and listen to yourself inhaling and exhaling as you breathe slowly. Imagine yourself doing something that makes you happy or being with someone who makes you happy. I know this might sound a bit strange for some of you reading this. But it only takes a few minutes, so give it try. You've got nothing to lose and a lot of energy to gain.

Stop with the email and Facebook before bed

Remember about the bright light in the morning helping you with waking up. Well, bright light at bedtime will increase your brain activity, making it more difficult for you to fall asleep. For instance, watching television or using the computer will stimulate your brain with too much light. Experts recommend reading a book or magazine instead. And be sure to keep the lamp light below 60 watts. If you do use your computer at night, try to log off at least 60 minutes before going to sleep.