Effective Ways to Increase Your Energy Levels

Introduction

It’s no secret that regular exercise carries a wide range of health benefits. In addition to helping you maintain a healthy weight and increasing your self-esteem, working out on a consistent basis is synonymous with improved concentration and mental clarity.

Despite the many perks of physical fitness, many of us have trouble taking that first step. In some cases, this fear of commitment stems from time constraints, but more often than not, we simply don’t possess the energy to engage in strenuous workouts.

Fortunately, increasing your energy levels isn’t nearly as daunting as you may think. Here are some effective ways you can increase your energy levels.

Build Your Stamina Through Light Workouts

When people with very little physical fitness experience attempt to tackle arduous workout routines, they often become discouraged and throw in the towel in an expedient manner. In some cases, the perceived difficulty sours these individuals on the idea of exercise altogether. The desire to be immediately good at new things is perfectly normal – as is the tendency to give up when new endeavors prove too cumbersome. However, when it comes to physical fitness, going from 0 to 10 without putting in any effort is simply unrealistic.

Getting yourself to your desired fitness level will require you to build sufficient stamina. Furthermore, this is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Increasing stamina levels generally entails starting small and gradually working your way up. Throwing yourself into an advanced fitness regimen for which you possess insufficient stamina is likely to result in extreme exhaustion and/or potential injury. The more stamina you build, the higher your endurance and energy levels will become. No matter how eager you are to dive into an exciting new exercise routine, going in with low stamina is just asking for trouble.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

There’s a strong correlation between eating right and feeling right. If heightened energy levels are what you’re after, sticking to a nutritious diet can prove invaluable. In addition to eating plenty of fruits, veggies and whole grains, you can help boost your energy with delicious protein powder shakes.

Get Enough Sleep Every Night

Many of us habitually stay up later than we reasonably should. Given how much of the day is taken up by work and other pressing obligations, the night is the only time many of us have to unwind and engage in our favorite hobbies. As such, we often prioritize having fun over getting a peaceful night’s rest. While everyone has the occasional late night, improper sleep habits are associated with a number of undesirable consequences. Waning concentration, heightened irritability and decreased immunity are just a few of the problems synonymous with poor sleep.

Unsurprisingly, not getting enough sleep is also tied to low energy levels. The less sleep you get, the less energy you’ll have to face the day ahead. Not only can this make exercising a difficult prospect, it’s liable to impact your job performance and personal relationships. To nip these issues in the bud, make a point of getting between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. There’s a good chance this will mean turning in earlier than usual, but the various payoffs will be well worth the lost leisure time.

Limit Your Alcohol Intake

Drinking to excess is associated with a bevy of health problems – heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, to name a few. In addition, being a sedative, alcohol tends to make people feel drowsy and zaps their energy. Since alcohol is also a diuretic, it stands to interfere with your quality of sleep.

This isn’t to say that you can never enjoy a drink, but if you insist on consuming alcohol, it’s recommended that you do so in extreme moderation. U.S. alcohol guidelines recommend no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, with a standard drink being one beer (which constitutes 12 fluid ounces) or one glass of wine (which constitutes five fluid ounces).

The Takeaway

Engaging in regular exercise is among the best things you can do for both your physical health and psychological well-being. However, for many of us, summoning the strength to tackle vigorous workouts can be an uphill battle.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of ways to increase energy levels. Furthermore, boosting one’s energy doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. A few simple lifestyle changes and a fair amount of dedication can take you a long way in the fight against waning energy levels.

About Theresa Duncan

Originally from Detroit, MI, Theresa has been offering health and fitness advice for the last 30 years while working as an engineer. She decided to turn her passion into a profession, and finds nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their health and fitness goals.