After a VERY high energy class this week, I found the motivation for the next blog. What can we do to fight fatigue and command more energy into the daily grind? Our take home with the intense high-energy boxing class this week was my top five tips for daily energy. No matter how much sleep we get, or the weight of our workload, having enough energy is a constant battle. Here are my easy to follow ideas:

1. Take a Power Nap.

A true "power nap" only takes minimal time from your day. Sit back in your seat, close your eyes, and just let yourself relax for 5-10 minutes. You can do this on trains, buses, office chairs, park benches, and even in the unconventional bathroom stall. You can even incorporate it into your lunch break at work. Set a timer so you don't focus on the time. The key is that you don't become super comfortable so you completely fall asleep, hence resting sitting upright in a chair.



2. Eat smaller more frequent meals every 2-3 hours.

I realize that eating every few hours is on my list for most of my health tips, yet it's appropriate again in relation to energy (surprise surprise). Eating often helps keep your energy levels even throughout the day. I’m sure you've had the experience where you eat a huge lunch, and afterwards notice a huge decrease in your productivity. What happened is that you put a huge amount of food in your stomach so that your body had to divert all it's energy to digestion, and took away from other important functions such as your brain (and work).


3. Keep your body hydrated. (me "hydrating" from a stream of melted glacial water in Argentina)

Water is needed to maintain a healthy body, a clear mind, and a good balance within your tissues. About 60% of your body is water, and to function efficiently, you must stay hydrated. Sometimes when you have a lack of water in your body, you receive confusing signals. Instead of feeling dehydrated, you might think you feel hungry or tired. A lack of water makes normal processes more difficult than normal, and the complicated signals are hard to read. We know that drinking water is a necessity, so by meeting your water intake you automatically remove a variable for why you are tired.





4. Go to the doctor.

The list of physical ailments that can effect your energy is unfortunately long and unexpected. It helps to know that you just need a cup of coffee for a pick me up, and not an iron supplement or a gluten-free diet, Knowledge is power. Go to the doctor and have a physical including a full blood test so you can be sure that afternoon fatigue is because you've been missing your weekly bootcamp workouts, and not because you need more spinach in your diet.

A few fatigue culprits:

Anemia
Blood sugar
Allergies
Deficiencies
Thyroid disease

5. Exercise.

Daily exercise encourages a healthy metabolism, which helps increase and balance energy. A great side effect of exercise is that we sweat, and sweating is a wonderful way to help your body detox. We attack our bodies with a large assortment of toxins daily, and when we exercise and sweat it gives our bodies a chance to expel those nasties.