How to keep up your energy level in the new year
Wake up early and get yourself together just enough to pull of the “I’m employed” look, and run out the door to get to work on time. Spend a long day at your desk or in front of your computer, and come home exhausted. Shlump your way through dinner, watch an episode of TV before falling asleep like you just got back from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
So how do you keep up your energy level in the new year?
Hustle in the morning.
Now that 2014 is here, you might have some goals you’re looking at for the coming weeks or months. Maybe you want to step it up at work and get a raise, maybe you want to put more work into your side hustle, or maybe you’re just looking to recover from the twelve coffee cakes you ate over the holiday season. Whatever your goals may be, it’s hard to have the energy to get things done after a long day of work. If you start your day strong, that energy will translate into higher productivity for the rest of your day. If possible, work out in the morning. Even though you have to get up earlier, the energy you get from a morning workout far exceeds the energy you get from the extra hour of sleep.
Shop right.
I’m sure you have never heard that eating right is important to your energy level. What an original piece of advice; thank you so much. Eating right is one of the most important parts of a high energy level, but it’s important to know how to shop right first — otherwise eating right is nearly impossible. When you walk into the supermarket, keep most (or all) of your shopping in the outer ring. That’s where the fresh stuff is. If your cart is full of mostly fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grain, you’re killing it. Keep snacks like apples, bananas, and yogurt in the fridge at work so your stomach isn’t eating itself on the way home.
Keep yourself busy.
After work, grab coffee with a friend. Take a yoga class. Check out what’s happening in your city for free on a Tuesday evening. While down time is crucial for a balanced (and sane) life, too much can cause sluggishness and unnecessary boredom, depleting your energy level in a big way. If you keep yourself busy, you will appreciate and take advantage of moments of relaxation much more. As an added bonus, a busy and active day leads to better sleep at night, which means more energy in the morning. So treat your body to a busy schedule because you deserve it.
If you hustle in one aspect of your life, that mentality tends to spread to other aspects of your life. If you keep your energy high during the day and keep your mind focused on your goals, those 2014 resolutions you just made will seem like a piece of cake.
