If you find yourself moving through the day in a brain fog or are in constant need of a nap, you need to read this. Feeling tired makes it hard to maintain peak performance throughout the day, but there are various activities you can do to boost your energy. Check out our top natural energy boosters below, including how an infrared sauna can help with your much-needed energy needs.

1. Perform 10 Jumping Jacks Right Now

Research suggests that regular exercise can help combat fatigue and increase feelings of energy [1]. If you are feeling particularly sluggish, consider busting out a few jumping jacks right now. If jumping jacks are a bit too extravagant for your liking, do push-ups or squats - basically anything to get you moving and start the blood flowing! A quick walk will also do the trick. You will be pleasantly surprised by how well this works.

2. Focus On Your Sleep

When life gets busy, we often cut back on sleep to make more time for ourselves. Unfortunately, this often increases fatigue, which in turn, leads to one feeling grumpy and easily irritated; and can cause a decline in performance and productivity in daily tasks.

If you feel more tired as of late, consider re-evaluating your sleep routine. Do you go to bed at the same time each night? Do you perform relaxing activities a few hours leading up to your bedtime? Is your sleep environment as optimal as it could be? These are all questions you will want to answer when trying to increase your daily bank of energy.

3. Eat A Nutritious and Balanced Diet

A balanced and healthy diet will ensure your body and its systems are functioning at their best, including when it comes to the creation of energy [2]. What you put into your body is what you get out of it. If you are consuming low-nutrient foods, you will receive low-quality energy in return. Your systems require certain nutrients to function optimally and it is up to you to ensure your body receives the fuel it deserves. Learn about proper nutrition by doing your research and teaching yourself how to read food labels. You will thank yourself in the long-run for doing so.

4. Drink More Water

Dehydration negatively impacts your mood, energy levels and cognitive performance [3]. Considering that the human body is about 60% water, this should not come as a surprise. Since water is required for your body and its systems to perform at its best, drinking more of it daily can leave you feeling refreshed. Consider bringing a water bottle with you wherever your day takes you.

5. Use Infrared Therapy Regularly

Infrared saunas use light to create heat, which can have a positive impact on your health and well-being. Infrared therapy benefits include decreased stress, increased relaxation, reduced pain and improved immune function, to name a few. Infrared saunas can also help boost your energy levels and make you feel more rested. In fact, a 2015 study took a closer look at infrared sauna therapy and its use in treating chronic fatigue syndrome. The participants in this study reported decreased perceived fatigue after four weeks of infrared therapy [4]. Typically, individuals will spend 20-45 minutes in an infrared sauna for one session, with three to four sessions per week. It is recommended to use infrared therapy consistently to receive proven health benefits, as well as to increase your energy levels.

Start Living Your Life!

Having more energy means you can start actively participating in your life more. Constantly feeling tired is terrible, but there are so many ways to increase energy levels, like the ones described above. If you have exhausted all options, please consider booking a consultation with a doctor to get to the bottom of your fatigue once and for all.

Resources:

[1] Dishman R.K., O’Connor P.J., & Puetz T.W. (2006). “Effects of chronic exercise on feelings of energy and fatigue: a quantitative synthesis.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Pyschol Bull, November 2006, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17073524.

[2] Cannon G., Claro R.M., Levy R.B., et al. (2013). “Consumption of ultra-processed foods and likely impact on human health. Evidence from Canada.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Public Health Nutri, December 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23171687.

[3] Armstrong L.E., Casa D.J., Chevillotte E., et al. (2011). “Mild dehydration impairs cognitive performance and mood of men.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Br J Nutri, November 2011, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21736786.

[4] Masuda A., Miyata M., Munemoto T., et al. (2015). “Effects of Waon therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Intern Med, 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25748743.