How to Increase Energy and Make Time For You

How often do you feel like there are so many urgent tasks that need to be handled daily, that by the time we get around to the tasks that we really want to do we are drained and put them on the back burner again?

Often, by the time we have completed the must-do tasks, we are so drained we just don’t have the energy to take care of ourselves.  When this happens we need to find ways to increase energy level’s so that we have time for ourselves and the tasks that we want to do and not just the tasks we must do.

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The good news is, there are actionable steps that you can take to increase energy levels.  It starts with realizing that there are many factors that can affect our energy. These factors include our physical state, our mental and emotional state, as well as external factors, and our relationship with others.  Regardless of which category may be depleting your energy reserves, here are eleven practical ways to increase energy levels and make time for you.

Physical Energy

Caring for our physical bodies is the single, most important factor to help increase energy levels. If we are not caring for ourselves physically, not much is going to help you sustain and increase your energy level.  In fact, if we are not physically healthy, it will be nearly impossible to accomplish all that you want to. To increase your physical energy make sure you:

1. Exercise Daily

We all know that exercise is a key component of good health. It is equally important to help you increase energy levels throughout your day. When you exercise, your body produces endorphins. Endorphins are a natural chemical that increases your energy.  These natural chemicals also have the added benefit of reducing and counteracting stress.

2. Proper Hydration

One of the symptoms that occur when our bodies start to get dehydrated, is we become sleepy or tired. That sleepiness or tiredness feeling prevents us from being at our peak performance. To increase energy levels throughout the day be sure to drink plenty of water.

The minimum amount of water intake that is recommended is 8-8 ounce glasses per day. One of the things I have done to really help me drink plenty of water throughout the day is to carry a cute water bottle with me wherever I go. If you develop the habit of carrying a water bottle with you, it will be easy to maintain proper hydration.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

When you eat a diet consisting primarily of highly processed foods that are high in sugar you get a quick burst of energy. However, your sugar levels will fall just as quickly as they rose. This causes a sudden drop in your energy level.  You can see more details of what happens to your body when you eat a ton of sugar here.

In order to increase energy levels, you need to eat a healthy diet. Try these power foods to increase energy levels that you can maintain throughout the day.

4. Get Enough Sleep

It’s pretty obvious that if we don’t get enough sleep we are going to feel tired and sluggish throughout the day. To increase energy levels you need to get to bed at a decent hour. It is helpful to get into the habit of going to bed and getting up at the same time each day. This puts your body in a natural rhythm. When your body is on a natural rhythm it knows when it’s time to keep moving and you will stay energized throughout the day.

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL ENERGY FACTORS

As with caring for our physical bodies, not properly caring for our mental and emotional state can result in depleting our energy levels. To help ensure that your mental and emotional state allows you to increase energy levels be sure to:

5. Prioritize

Having a clear view of what your priorities are will actually help to maintain your daily energy. When we work on things that are important to us, it will naturally increase energy levels. Conversely, if you spend a lot of time on hundreds of menial tasks you are going to get worn out and feel exhausted.

To increase energy levels, take some time to get clear about what matters most to you.  Pay attention to those items and feel more energized.

6. Be Positive

There have been studies done showing how negative situations and thoughts naturally drain us. In order to increase energy levels, it is important to look for the positive. Positive thinking allows you to see more possibilities in your life. This will naturally make you feel happier and increase energy levels.

So if you find yourself feeling drained or sluggish, check your thoughts, make sure you are focusing on the positive.

7. What You Speak

Along the same lines as training yourself to think positively, the words you speak can affect your energy levels. If you focus on how tired you are or tell others how tired you are, you are going to continue to feel low energy levels. But, if you change your thoughts and what you speak from I’m tired, to I feel great today, amazingly you will increase energy levels and feel them naturally rise.

8. Learn New Things

Your brain is considered the largest muscle in your body. Just like the rest of the muscles in your body, your brain needs to be exercised to maintain a strong energy level.

Regularly exercise your brain by challenging yourself to learn new things. Taking the time for regular reading and other activities that stimulate your brain will help increase energy levels throughout your day.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Another factor that can impact your energy levels comes from the relationships you have with others. If you find that you are regularly feeling worn out and unmotivated check your relationships, they may be a factor.

9. Negative People

Have you had to spend any significant time with someone who is very negative? Do you spend time with a person who looks for and finds the worst, who grumbles and complains and is just generally unhappy? If so, I am quite certain I can guess how you felt afterward …. exhausted and drained.

Negative people quickly deplete our energy. If at all possible, avoid spending much time with negative people. I realize there are times that you cannot avoid a negative person, I wrote a detailed post on how to stay positive around this type of person. You can read the full post here.

10. Over Committing

I love the statement: “No is a complete sentence,” it is simple and straightforward.

Honestly, I always want to be open to serving and helping others. I want people to feel that they can come to me and ask for help. I firmly believe it is important to have this attitude.

Problems can arise, however, if you never say no. We end up overcommitted, stressed out, and exhausted. But, if you learn to place boundaries with the people in your life you will avoid over-committing and depleting your energy levels.

11. Time with God

Of all the ways I seek to energize my day, this is number one. I know that I can accomplish nothing of substance in my own strength, I need the strength of the Lord to keep me energized and motivated. If you feel your energy and motivation waning stop what you are doing and try praying or meditating.

Conclusion

You do so much every day to care for others.  You juggle many plates and they are overflowing, you deserve some time for yourself.  I hope you use these simple ways to increase energy level’s so that you can make time to care for yourself.

I would love to hear if you have any ways you increase your energy and stay motivated. Let us know in the comments.

Now live simply, live fully and make today your Favorite day!