How to boost energy without caffeine
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We are sorry to be the bearers of bad news but the best way to boost your energy is to eat well. There are no real short cuts to boosting your energy in a consistent and healthy way. Doubling up on coffee, 5-Hour energy or energy drinks will give you a boost of initial energy but lead to a crash after a few hours. This caffeine crash can leave you feeling worse and more tired than before. So try these simple lifestyle changes to increase your energy level without the caffeine:
1. Drink more water: Even slight dehydration will cause a drop in energy level. You may be surprised to know that dehydration actually makes your blood thicker, making it harder for your heart to pump oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and organs. Ultimately, this will slow you down.
2. Don’t skip breakfast: Dubbed the most important meal of the day, skipping breakfast can often lead to fatigue throughout the rest of the day. Breakfast is the best way to boost the metabolism after a night of sleep. Why? Because the body burns food and nutrients even as we sleep, leaving our reserves depleted by morning. A meal shortly after waking up is important to replenish this depleted energy and energize the body.
3. Disconnect from your electronics: One of the most important ways to maximize your energy is to get a good night’s sleep. The light given off by our electronics – our phones, TVs and tablets - can actually throw off our sleep cycles. Your body works like this: ‘if it’s bright it’s time to get up, if it’s dark it’s time for sleep.’ Our body treats artificial light the same as it would natural sunlight. The glow from our tech devices can keep us awake for longer and make it difficult for our bodies to wind down.
4. Skip the drink before bed: It’s a common habit many adults enjoy, an alcoholic drink after a long day of work to unwind before bed. Seems like a great idea, except that alcohol can actually interrupt your sleep at night. Initially, alcohol will depress your nervous system and produce a tranquilizing effect helping you to fall asleep. However as it is broken down as you sleep, it gives the body a surge of energy, likely to wake you up at night.
5. Don’t change your sleep schedule because it’s the weekend: Altering your sleep cycle on the weekends can leave you feeling tired by the time Monday rolls around. Obviously, it is unrealistic to expect people to get to bed early on the weekends, but trying to stay close to your regular bed times can be helpful. If you can’t stay near your regular bedtime, sticking to the same wake time is essential for your body to feel regular and stay energetic throughout the day.