Energy Now. | The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC

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A few weeks back, I started watching a pair of 20 month old twins in addition to my 11 month old daughter and four year old son. It has been lots of fun but SHEW! I am completely wiped by the time 5 pm rolls around.

Okay, honestly? I’m wiped pretty much an hour after I roll out of bed in the morning.

The boundless energy that the children have? I think they have drained it from my body.

Cute little leeches.

Seriously, I need more energy. I don’t like feeling run down, I don’t like drinking an entire pot of coffee daily (that is not a typo). Turns out, I’m not totally barking up the wrong tree. Caffeine IS good for increasing alertness – maybe just not in such massive quantities. Check out these ideas for boosting your energy levels in a HEALTHY way.

Caffeine: Caffiene actually helps your body fuel itself – it stimulates the breakdown of stored fats into fatty acids, which can then be used by muscle and other tissues for energy. But watch your intake. For optimum benefit, try to take in no more than 150 millgrams per day – that’s about a cup and a half of coffee. And switch to decaf after 2 pm to avoid keeping yourself awak at night.

Music: Create a playlist that lifts your mood. It doesn’t even need to be up tempo. That said, something that will get you moving and grooving is always a good thing.

Going Outside: Try to get outside for at least 15 minutes if you’re dragging. Fresh air and deep breathing helps carry more oxygen into your blood and provides a boost.

Water: Being dehydrated can make you feel fatigued, unfocused and generally down. Drink your water!

Better Sleep: Easier said than done, right?  Try these tips:

  • Aromatherapy, especially lavender, can help lull you off to dreamland.
  • Take a hot bath: Sleep comes most easily when your core temperature drops. You’d think a hot bath would be counterproductive, but this is how it works – if your hands and feet are cold, your core holds onto heat. A hot bath warms your extremities , so your body gets the memo to start cooling itself. Add a few drops of lavendar essential oil to your bath water for a one–two sleepy punch.
  • Unplug: Blue wavelengths in natural light have a big impact on our circadian rythym and slows the production of melatonin, which is the key to drifting off to sleep. Avoiding blue light, which is prevalent in many of today’s high efficiency bulbs and the screens of laptops and tablets, can help sleep come more easily. Try turning off technology after dinner and dimming the lights an hour before you hit the sack.

Snacking: Keep it at 200 calories or less, and make sure it’s a balanced combination of carbs, fiber and protein. Try a hard boiled egg and a small banana, or a 1/2 cup of blueberries with a cup of plain lowfat Greek yogurt.

Exercise (duh). Even 15 minutes of cardio daily will work wonders for your energy levels.

So, how are you all feeling? Worn down? Or are you always reading and raring to go?

Any tricks you use to keep up with your kids/animals/life in general?

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