Are you looking for ways to increase your energy but aren’t sure how? Between the shopping, the cooking for dinner parties, traveling to see friends and family, traffic and kids staying up way past their bedtime, I KNOW we can all use a little extra oomph this season.
.jpg)
Food gives us energy, but if you’re like me, during the holiday season, you’re all already consuming food in excess. Constantly grazing may deplete you of your energy levels and here’s why…
You see, it takes a lot of energy to digest the food you eat. It can take anywhere from 3-4 hours to break down your last meal. If you’re constantly grazing, then your digestive system never gets a break and now, all that energy that could’ve been used to tackle your holiday shopping list, make that extra casserole, create a trap for Santa, and have more patience towards the in-laws, instead, now it’s being diverted to digest the food you’re eating.
The moral of this story isn’t to eat less. HONOR your hunger and eat as much your body needs. What this post will teach you is other ways that you can increase your energy for the holiday season, without snacking, that will give your digestive system a break, maintain steady blood sugar levels, curb your hunger a bit, and boost your metabolism.
- Get enough sleep. Yup, I went there. I know this one seems so common sense, but common sense isn’t common practice. Here’s the truth- if you don’t get sufficient sleep, then everything else is limited and won’t work as effectively as possible. I’m sharing these tips with you to enhance your energy, not as a substitute for lack of sleep. If you want to feel good, with plenty of energy to live your life, then you’re going to need to log some Zzzz’s. None of the other tips here will work without the foundation of good sleep. #SorryNotSorry tis the #truth!
- Take a walk outside.We were never meant to be inside, chained to a 6 by 6 cubicle, for 8-14 hours a day. Our ancestors spent their ENTIRE lives outside. You need fresh air, movement, and sunshine to trigger a cascade of hormonal responses that are responsible for producing, guess what? That’s right! ENERGY! Take a 30-minute walk daily, preferably mid-day when the sun is shining at its brightest, so you can soak up that vitamin D goodness. If you can’t mid-morning, take it when you start to feel tired and are tempted to reach for that second or third cup of coffee. Let nature heal you! Let nature energize you!
- Drink Ginseng Tea. Coffee can lead to a steep caffeine crash, whereas tea contains L-Theanine, which moderates the effects of caffeine to increase memory and concentration. Ginseng is pretty popular and well-known. So much so you can even buy these little vials of ginseng at the gas station. DON’T BUY THOSE! Those suck! The quality is garbage and when it comes to herbs, you don’t want to be going cheap here, or you might end up with some cross contaminated, chemical garbage. Ginseng is an adaptogen and it works slowly and steadily. Ginseng has been studied in the Journal of Diabetesand shown to boost energy levels, speed metabolism, increase weight loss, and insulin sensitivity. Make sure to choose a trustworthy brand like Yogi.
- Enjoy some cacao! In its most natural form, cacao is a seed. Everything chocolate comes from a seed and is called cocoa beans. Contrary to popular belief, chocolate is NOT bad for you. I repeat, it is NOT baddddd forrrr youuuu! In its natural and raw form, chocolate is just banging! It is the processing of it that turns it into trash. In its raw form, it does not contain any sugar or dairy.
Cacao (chocolate) is one of the most delicious and healthy superfoods that exist. Can I get an AMEN on that?! It’s beneficial with PMS symptoms, good for metabolizing glucose, keeping the heart healthy, easing depression, and giving you a natural boost of energy thanks to the theobromine. Unlike caffeine, theobromine gives you a noticeable increase in energy without making you feel nervous or jittery. It also aids in boosting your energy by helping to maintain healthy blood sugar levels with chromium and zinc. Balanced blood sugar levels are EVERYTHING yo! Try the brand Crio Bru. It’s one of my favorite cacao products that brews just like coffee but is NOT coffee and gives you all the benefits of cacao in one delicious cup.
Keep these tips handy for the next time your energy is feeling low or you’re tempted to reach for a sugary snack. And if you’re looking for more ways to increase your energy, boost your metabolism and balance your hormones naturally to help you feel as awesome as possible, you can check out my best-selling program called, “The Happy Hormone Guide: Super Charge Your Energy, Focus, Sleep, Sex Drive & Weight Loss.”
Happy energizing!
Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and believer in creating your best momlife the way you see fit. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, my hope is you’ll find something here to make your life a little better/easier. Let’s be friends on social!
