Lockdown means that for many of us our normal routines and habits are totally disrupted – simple things like getting up and going to work, making dinner and getting kids ready for school are suddenly absent. As much as we might find these repetitive tasks annoying under normal circumstances, having them all disappear at once can be totally disorientating. It’s no surprise that without these daily rituals many of us actually find ourselves feeling more lethargic than ever before, despite probably getting more rest than we even want!
How to increase energy
Before we tackle the suggestions, let’s break down what we really mean by “energy”. For some of us (usually those who work physical jobs) energy means how much longer we can continue to work for. When you’re out of energy, we need to sit down, get some food and some sleep, because our bodies need to recover. We’re physically exhausted. For those of us working more mentally based jobs, however, energy tends to mean “focus” – it’s how much longer we can keep doing the task we’re working on before we’re totally out of concentration, or just too “burnt out” to do anything really productive.
It’s worth keeping this in mind because whatever approach we take to try to increase energy, we should match it to what we’re trying to achieve – coffee might make you feel more mentally alert, but it won’t bring you back from physical exhaustion. A break and an isotonic drink might buy you a bit more physical working time, but it won’t much help your mental focus.
Creating smart, healthy habits each day can help increase your energy level, mental focus, and endurance.
Practical steps to take
Common approaches to boosting our energy include things like caffeine, sports drinks, energy tablets, sugary foods, perhaps a quick walk or a change of task. All of these can be useful in the short term, but all come with problems in the longer run. Sports drinks and other “energy” drinks are really just high sugar drinks – great for a pre or post work out fuel up, but a sure-fire way to pack on the pounds in the office. Caffeine can give you a bit more focus for a short time, but also puts a strain on the body and leads to dependency if used too much. Taking a break for a jog, or even for some tough exercise can help with mental focus, but if you’re already exhausted you’re significantly more likely to injure yourself during training.
We’re not saying don’t reach for a quick fix – however, in the long term, there are some more positive options to explore.
- Being stressed out consumes a ton of energy. Bringing down your mental stress levels with a relaxing activity like meditation and your physical tension with some quick physical therapy in the form of chiropractic care can help you reclaim that energy.
- Daily exercise, at a regular time, before you’re exhausted, can help you sleep better, elevate your mood, and further improve your energy levels by boosting the amount of oxygen circulating in your body. Even just 15 minutes of exercise early in the day makes a big difference.
- Eating foods with a low glycemic index (where sugar is absorbed slowly) can help you avoid a crash after meals and snacks, keeping you more energized throughout the day. Many people find that this helps with overall focus.
- Natural supplements such as Ginseng can have a similar effect to caffeine, with less of a “crash” or risk of dependency.
- Avoiding postural problems through regular chiropractic and stretching can drastically improve the efficiency of your body – if you’re constantly moving in a way to guard an existing sore spot, you’re using far more energy than when you move freely.
- Having a wind-down ritual at the end of the day (at a set time) can help to promote more regular sleep, which is, of course, the ultimate energy fix. [1]
How we can help
Chiropractic won’t give you more energy in an of itself, however regular care and maintenance can help by optimising posture, reducing distracting and stressful pain and by helping you to sleep better. What’s more, a trip to the Chiropractor is a legitimate and legal reason to leave the house at the moment – and you might find that alone refreshing!!
[1] 9 Tips to Boost Your Energy — Naturally. Harvard Health Publishing. 2020.
