Hacking Your Hormones
Sick & Tired of being Tired?
7 Top Tips to Boost Energy & Fight Fatigue
Life requires energy and a lot of it. Energy is the most precious asset that supports everything in your life. It’s a currency that you want to invest in, but seem to lose in every transaction of life. We become the curators of all and everything, which can become unmanageable. The older we get, the less energy we have; there’s always someone or something that is trying to take a little bit and we need to take it back for ourselves.
Life Worth Living
If you want to have a rich, fulfilling life, you’ve got to have the energy to make it happen. It’s easier said than done when many of us are struggling through the day in a constant state of fatigue. We know we’re tired, but we normalise the feeling, believing that it’s just life and everyone feels the same. But it isn’t normal and you can claim some energy back. The default state of a human being is to be energised, it’s what we do in our day-to-day lives that detracts from our energy levels and makes us feel like a walking, talking corpse, simply going through the motions and constantly wishing it was time for bed.
So, how do we increase energy levels and fight fatigue? By removing energy drains and optimising your habits and lifestyle for more energy. Here are our 7 favourite hacks to skyrocket your energy.
Remove Energy Drains
Before you do anything else, you need to identify the areas in your life that are depleting your energy. This could be too much alcohol, toxic relationships, too many carbs, scrolling through social media, exposing yourself to too much bad news, or a stressful job which can disproportionately impact the way you feel. Whilst we understand that removing energy drains can be easier said than done, you do have some control over the way you allow things to make you feel. Remember, you work to live and not the other way around. You are allowed to be as merciless as you need to be when it comes to your health and who you choose to give your energy to. Without first addressing your energy drains, you simply cannot impact your life’s energy in a positive way - it’s like trying to fill a bucket with gaping holes.
Exercise for Energy
You’re probably inclined to think that if you’re tired, exercise is going to make you feel even worse; however, this isn’t the case. The body is designed to move. Exercise creates energy in your body by boosting blood flow and delivering oxygen, nutrients and vitamins to your muscles. Increased oxygen in your body translates to greater energy and clarity of mind.
You may feel too tired to exercise, but in the long run, it will make you feel a lot better. So, next time you want to reach for your phone, the remote or the bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, opt for movement instead. The best kind of exercise to boost mitochondrial (the energy powerhouse) function of your cells is HIIT and strength training. So, grab yourself some dumbbells, or a couple of tins of beans and bang on a 15 minute Youtube HIIT workout to kick start your energy. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did! For that extra boost and to get you going, give WillPowder’s ElectroTide a whirl. ElectroTide is the ultimate electrolyte supplement for energy and will quickly replenish your electrolytes without spiking your blood sugar. It’s the perfect supplement, pre and post workout.
Use Food as Fuel
Healthy eating habits go hand-in-hand with exercise, enabling the body to feel energised by supplying the necessary nutrients and minerals. Our advice for those who want to fight fatigue and boost energy when you’re fatigued is to look at your last meal. The chances are, your diet is one of the route causes you’re feeling so drained.
Certain foods like gluten, dairy and too many carbs can make you instantly tired. Eating high-protein and high ‘good’ fat meals keep your blood sugar steady, cravings at bay and provide slow released energy throughout the day. Bingeing on sugar, refined and processed foods (which includes low fat alternatives) send your blood sugar on a rollercoaster ride, leading to energy spikes and crashes (what goes up, must come down), ultimately leaving you feeling like you could do with a midday siesta or another biscuit. We swear by a fatty coffee made with MCT Keto Powder and Bovine Collagen Peptides. If you’re craving a sweet hit, pop some stevia in to really dampen down those sugar cravings.
Get 7-9 hours of sleep
This might seem like a no-brainer, but good sleep is essential to everything, especially your energy levels. If your slumber is compromised, every other area of your life will suffer. Maintain a consistent sleeping schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time. Your bedroom should feel like a sanctuary that you retreat to for rest and rejuvenation. Keep your room cool, dark, quiet and well ventilated to create the optimal environment for a restful sleep. Avoid work, stress and limit blue light exposure from technology at least a couple of hours before bed.
A busy mind getting in the way of peaceful sleep? Try our nootropic supplement Calm, which contains Theanine, an incredible amino acid with numerous benefits for your brain and body. Preventing your brain from whirring and instead, unleashing a sense of serenity, Theanine may make it easier for you to drift off peacefully.
For more sleeping hacks, check out our review of the ‘Why Can’t I Sleep?’ Chapter from Hack your Hormones.
Soak up Some Sun
Light conveys information to the deepest levels of our biology. Let in the light by saying goodbye to your usual morning coffee routine, where you’re probably throwing the caffeine down because you have to rush the kids to school or shoot off to work. Instead, get up 10 minutes earlier, make yourself an aforementioned fatty coffee and get yourself into the garden to enjoy it. By exposing yourself to sunlight, you trigger your cortisol (the wakey wakey hormone). Even on cloudy days, natural light is a healthy way to boost mitochondrial function and energy. Try getting at least 20 minutes of natural light every day.
In the winter months, natural light can be hard to come by - mainly because we leave the house when it’s dark and return home when it’s dark (joy!). Red light boxes can be a brilliant way of subverting this issue. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that helps to regulate mood. By increasing serotonin levels, red light therapy can help to improve mood and alleviate the symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). If you suffer from SAD in the winter months, your energy levels will be directly impacted, leaving you feeling like all you want to do is curl up, which we know is counterintuitive to our energy levels.
Try Nootropics
Once you’ve got the fundamentals nailed, you can turn to cool productivity and energy-boosting substances known as nootropics. Nootropics are natural substances that can fire you up with the much-needed energy to smash it in life. Say hello to our energising nootropic supplement Brain Powder. It’s been developed to give you that extra burst of energy when you need it most. Use it as a pre-workout drink, a pre-meeting boost, before a long drive, or as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Expose Yourself to the Cold
Cold showers, so simple, yet so effective, are one of our all-time favourite energy-boosting hacks. Just 5 minutes under a cold shower can wake you up for the day, boost your mood, and give you much-needed mental clarity. Turn your shower to its coldest setting before you get out and build up to 3-5 minutes of cold water therapy. The key is to breathe deeply and steadily to relax your mind. As you get accustomed to this new habit, you will be able to naturally relax as you go through the process. To read more about the benefits of cold water therapy, submerge yourself in our Cold Water blog.
With these simple hacks, you will soon be racing round like a Duracell Bunny and finding the joy in life again.
Disclaimer
Our blogs are written with love in the hope that they go some way in helping you feel like the rockstar you are, and whilst we do our due diligence, research like maniacs and fact check our stuff, we know everyone’s journey is different. They are intended to educate and empower you, not usurp medical advice. We would never advise you to stop, adjust, or modify any prescription medication without the direct supervision of your healthcare practitioner, but don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about your new found knowledge, brought to you by the marvels of nature because they don't know everything! Blogs are always informed by Davinia but often written by a member of the team. Not all blogs reflect Davinia's experiences and sometimes provide alternative perspectives