Hey Energy! Where did you go?

First of all, I am not hating on caffeine. 

Caffeine has come to my rescue on a number of occasions (and clearly to the rescue of the woman in the photo).  Where caffeine gets tricky is when we believe it creates energy.  Unfortunately, this is not true. It borrows energy.  If it borrowed energy from my 4 year old, I would be laughing. The problem is that it borrows from our energy stores which are meant to be used in the future.  What does this mean, you ask?

 Caffeine + You = More energy now but even less energy later = energy crash

You can see how this can become a bit of a cycle, and why, later in the day, you feel like you need caffeine more than ever.

Now, don’t put down your double skinny vanilla latte just yet, unless of course it is your third today. Let’s discuss how to create energy naturally in ways that won’t leave you with the shakes or crashing later on. 

Here are some golden tips and tricks for creating energy:

1)     Sleep.  This may seem like a no brainer, but if you are not getting quality sleep most nights, then you are only filling your tank half way for the long road trip ahead. 

2)     Nutrition.  If you are not getting the basic nutrients that your body needs, your body has to work harder to function.  If it is working harder to do the basics, it has less energy for the non-essentials like thinking, making dinner for a hungry family, or staying calm at the driver that is tailgating.

3)     Blood sugar.  This is very closely related to #2, but if you are eating refined carbs, like sugary cereal, your blood sugar skyrockets, which makes your pancreas over create insulin.  Once you are flooded with insulin, your blood sugar drops, and you are tired.  You may even find yourself reaching for the chocolate sprinkled doughnut that you had the willpower to resist an hour ago.  To counter this, make sure you are eating protein with each meal, and stay away from the white stuff like sugar, white flours or white rice.

4)     Your imagination. Your brain will believe whatever you tell it, and you can use this to your advantage.  Taking a few moments to go skydiving, parasailing, or adventure racing in your mind can lead to an increase in hormones that will give you a jolt of energy.  **Please use caution with this technique while operating heavy equipment or handling small infants.

5)     Quick fit. I am not talking about going to the gym or for a long run, but do a few jumping jacks, or take a quick walk around the block.  This is often just enough to get the blood flowing and oxygen moving through your body at a faster pace. As geeky as this may feel, it is incredibly effective.

6)     Supplements.  Watch out for energy supplements that contain caffeine, but there are natural energy boosters that are rich in vitamin B and natural herbs. These may be effective in building your energy over time.  These are particularly helpful if you have been experiencing adrenal failure aka burnout.

7)     Laughter. Friends are a great way to boost your energy and get you laughing. If you only have a moment, then You Tube is jam packed with quirky little videos that will have you cracking up and feeling more energized.

8)     Music. Pump up the jam!  Okay, I just aged myself.  The truth is that the rhythm of music has an incredible impact on your neurochemistry.  Angry music will often connect to your anger, while soothing music will calm you down.  Find some music that gets you into an energetic state, and make sure you have it on hand for those dips in the day when you want to crawl under your desk for a siesta.

So, before your next energy crash, have a plan. Decide what strategy you will use to get through the dips in energy without reaching for the espresso or double fudge cookies.

Do you have a few energy tricks up your sleeve?  I would love to hear them in the comment section below.

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