The nights are starting to draw in across the UK and we're ending up going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark, so it's no surprise that people are asking how to beat the winter blues and get more energy.
Many of us feel lethargic during winter as the days are very short - scientists often call this 'SAD', which is seasonal affective disorder. This is a kind of depression that comes and goes with the seasons. It usually consists of periods of depression during winter months, and one of the major symptoms(2) is lethargy and low energy levels.
1. Play music and sing along
Music is proven to have energising effects(3) because it causes for you to move to the music in a lot of cases and this in turn generates energy and boosts your energy levels.
2. Eat berries
A great natural way to get more energy is to eat berries. They're packed with vitamins and have anti-oxident properties that rid your body of toxins, leaving it fresher and more energised. Try this berry energy shake(4) for an instant boost!
3. Take a power nap when you finish work
When you get home from work you'll be physically and mentally tried from the day, but power naps are proven to boost energy levels and reduce stress(5). So before you head out for that social event, get a quick half an hour in but make sure it is only half an hour or you'll wake up feeling more tired! A nice shower when you wake will help to bring you back to Earth.
4. Don't burn the candle at both ends!
We all work hard, and we all want to play hard, but going out socialising every night will do your body no good at all. There is nothing wrong with going out a couple of times a week, but you do need to make sure that you get an early night a few evenings a week to keep your energy levels high.
5. Don't take work home with you
If you want to get more energy you need to stop taking your work home. This might not be avoidable all the time, but if it's not essential, don't do it. You need time in the evenings to rest your mind and body after a day at work so use that time for you. You're not getting paid for it anyway!
6. Be organised and eliminate stress
To get more energy you need to remove stress from your life, and the first way to do this is by getting organised. Plan out your week in advance so that you know what you're doing and when to avoid rushing around last minute for things. This also leads onto getting better quality sleep...
7. Get better quality sleep
By having your week planned out on paper or on your computer, you will remove the stress of lying awake at night worrying that you might forget certain dates or events that are coming up. For each important event, write a list of what you need to do for them so that you know you won't forget and can sleep like a baby without any worry or stress. Then you'll be sure to get more energy in no time!
(1) http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Seasonal-affective-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx
(2) http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Seasonal-affective-disorder/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
(3) http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/house-music-energy-crisis1.htm
(4) http://www.indobase.com/recipes/details/mixed-berries-energy-shake.php
(5) http://www.naturalnews.com/031429_power_naps_energy.html
Jenna Caruana - Jenna Caruana Writer
