Let’s admit it — the best way to stay energetic is to sleep well. But sometimes you just can’t get enough time to rest. When you’re walking into the office with your eyes half-open, knowing the cause of your sleepiness won’t help you as much as knowing a few good tricks to kick-start your day.
Here are the most efficient and simple methods that will help you fight off sleepiness and stay energized throughout the day.
Don’t drink too much coffee or energy drinks.
These drinks may give you an energy boost for a short period of time but you’ll lose the rest of your energy with these artificial boosts. Moreover, it will be harder for you to fully recover the next morning.
Take a hot and cold contrast shower.
Or just wash your face with cold water. This classic tip is always useful.
Get more oxygen.
Oxygenation is a good way to wake your brain up. You can perform the following exercise in order to bring more oxygen to your brain:
- Lie down on the floor or on any flat surface.
- Put one hand on your stomach below your ribs. Put another hand on your chest.
- Take a deep breath with your nose and feel your belly pushing your hand. Make sure to keep your chest still.
- Breathe out through your mouth as if you were whistling. Feel the hand on your stomach going down. Push all the air out.
Perform this exercise 5-10 times and you’ll feel more energized.
Have ice cream for breakfast.
Even though this is a contradiction to the previous point, ice cream really helps wake up your brain. It’s not about sugar but about the cold temperature of the yummy treat. But this method shouldn’t become a habit.
Do morning exercises.
There’s no need to do a full workout. 3-5 simple exercises are good enough to give you an energy boost.
Take a hot bath with eucalyptus or pine essential oil.
A few drops of any essential oil with a strong smell and a quick but hot bath can work miracles. Surprisingly, a hot shower or bath in the morning is more beneficial than we thought.
Go outside.
Or at least open your windows and breathe in the fresh air. If you’re lucky and the temperature outside is very low, you will feel nice and fresh in a few minutes.
Make a plan for the day.
And follow the plan strictly. By writing down all of the important things to do, we don’t overwhelm our brain with excessive information. This way, it can concentrate on fulfilling the tasks instead of just memorizing them.
Eat less white sugar.
A spike in blood sugar can cause you to feel tired. If you want to eat something sweet, choose fruits; they are a healthy alternative.
Have more light around you.
When you are sitting in the dark, it’s only natural that you’ll feel even sleepier.
Take a 20-minute nap in the middle of the day.
Not everyone can afford the luxury of a day nap. However, if you are lucky enough to have such an option, make sure to use it. 20 minutes won’t restore your energy to the full extent but a quick nap will be just enough to “reload.”
Use strong scents.
Citrus and coniferous aromas, clove, cinnamon, and ginger are well known for their energizing properties.
Laugh!
Sincere laughter helps you relax and forget about your problems. A couple of funny anecdotes or amusing videos can help you get back to work with more energy.
Touch your palate with your tongue.
Change your socks.
This is probably the strangest tip. However, if you change your socks in the middle of the day, you’ll feel much more energized. We tested this ourselves and it really works! Give it a try.
