My name is Khushboo and I am addicted to updating my status on Facebook. If you’re a ‘friend of mine’ on Facebook, you must be aware that I have lately been suffering from a mild case of climate-induced lethargy. I love the heat and all, but something in the air seems to constantly suck the life out of me. It’s frustrating because I’m normally bursting with energy. Anyway I don’t want to turn this blog into a space for negative energy so rant over.
If you do have occasional spouts of sluggishness, here’s what normally works for me:
Good nutrition: By that I am referring to the magical threesome of complex carbs, lean protein, and healthy fats. I wont lie, as much as I strive to have a healthy attitude towards food old habits sometimes creep in. Occasionally I view food on the number of calories attached to it and then need to consciously remind myself that food is much more than that. Food is fuel so eat up, people. Skimming on calories will only make you lethargic and cranky…and nobody likes a cranky person. Some foods I swear by for energy include:
- Oats
- Eggs
- Bananas
- Walnuts/almonds
- Yogurt
- Apples
- Sweet potatoes
- Brown rice
- Green vegetables (especially broccoli)
- Water (at least 2.5 – 3 litres per day)
Considering my tea consumption, I have become somewhat immune to the effects of caffeine. Hence it is unlikely that a cup of coffee will do me any favors in the energy department.
Exercise: I always find that I am more energetic after a session rather than before. On tired days, the first 10 minutes are always the most excruciating to get through. But once I get into the groove and the oxygen starts pumping through my blood, I am buzzing.
Sleep: The key is to find the magical number of hours which works for you. On a normal day, 6.5 – 8.5 hours is sufficient for me. Any less and I’m not quite there yet. Any more sends me over the edge and just ends up making me feel more drowsy.
Along with the above, I also take a vitamin B supplement and have just started drinking homemade vegetable juice every morning. Apparently the combination of spinach, carrot, and beetroot is meant to work wonders so I am willing to give it a shot ;). And if that doesn’t help to eradicate my regular urge an afternoon nap, at least one thing is for sure: my complexion will be thankful. Bottoms up!
What’s your go-to energy fix?