Try these five techniques to boost your energy and motivation as the days grow colder.
If the shorter days and grey skies are leaving you feeling lethargic, we have some techniques that can help strengthen your immune system and improve your day-to-day energy levels.
Winter fatigue is a common condition affecting millions of people in the UK. Lucy Blyth is a wellbeing and health expert at energydots.com and shares some easy tips that could give you that much-needed boost.
Try Turmeric
Often referred to as a “wonder spice”, turmeric can help boost your immune system.
The yellow root is part of the ginger family and has been used in both cooking and Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. Research has shown that taking a turmeric supplement can help to lower fatigue levels and protect your body from free radicals that put oxidative stress on your body.
Although there are many ways to add turmeric to your food, for maximum results it is best taken as an extract added to green tea and smoothies.
Add butter to your coffee
This one might seem a little strange, but the benefits are worth it.
In contrast to a quick and short-lived espresso hit, butter coffee is said to provide steady, long-lasting energy without that blood sugar crash. Studies have found that the added fat slows digestion, meaning that caffeine is absorbed into the body slower.
To make butter coffee, add two tablespoons of butter (organic and unsalted is best) and two tablespoons of coconut oil to a cup of coffee and blend together until smooth. You can add a teaspoon of sugar to lighten the taste.
Intermittent fasting
Lauded as the most important meal of the day, breakfast has a significant influence on your morning and afternoon energy levels. What you choose to eat first thing in the morning could in fact be wreaking havoc with your blood sugar levels, resulting in regular energy dips.
The problem lies in the heightened levels of refined sugar present in many of the GI foods that we default to for quick and easy breakfasts — things like orange and apple juices, sugary cereals, pancakes, muffins and pastries.
Of course there are many breakfast alternatives that encourage a steadier output of energy, but advocates of intermittent fasting believe that going at least 16 hours without eating could in fact be an energy booster. They claim this is because of the constant up-and-down cycle of blood sugar — it stresses your metabolism, potentially resulting in lower energy levels and slower mental performance.
In theory, fasting for significant periods of time forces the body to use its fat stores for energy. Fat is digested slowly resulting in a longer lasting energy stream.
Think positively
Negative thoughts, stress and worries are instant energy zappers and although there are no quick fixes, there are techniques we can use to manage them and help stop them from taking over.
Meditating, writing feelings down, talking to a friend or even a quick break to dance around the house to your favourite song, are all ways that you can bring more positive energy into your life. Altering your mental state and taking small steps to create a more optimistic outlook could boost motivation and increase energy levels as a result.
For more expert advice and energy-boosting tools, visit energydots.com
