I’ve been seeing a lot of 5-Hour Energy
1. Get Outside
Did you know that only fifteen to twenty minutes of sunshine can elevate your mood and give you a big boost of energy? The sunlight boosts levels of hormones, such as serotonin, which make us feel happy and energetic.
Sunlight also enhances the body’s absorption of dopamine, a special chemical that allows us to feel the sensation of pleasure, such as from sex or a beautiful piece of music. I bet you’re going to get some sunlight now!
2. Stand Up and Stretch
It’s a sad fact of modern life that we spend so much of our time sitting in front of a computer. And research is showing that this is anything but good for us. It also saps our energy and dampens our mood.
Want a boost? Do what a motivational speaker tells their audience, get up out of your chair and stretch. Reach for the sky, count to ten, and you’ve just revved up your engine and made those dreams of a mid-afternoon nap disappear.
3. Drink Some Tea
I usually have Subway and a Coke for lunch. But lately I’ve started to substitute the Coke with tea. Drinking a beverage with so much sugar really messes with your sugar levels and can bring a fast and harsh let down several hours later, right in the middle of the afternoon.
Instead, eliminate the sugar from your diet and drink tea instead. The tea has a little caffeine to give you a boost in energy and focus, without the negative effects of unhealthy sugar.
4. Breathe Deeply to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve is critically important to regulating the body and plays a huge role in reducing anxiety and bringing us out of depression. The easiest way to stimulate the vagus nerve? Exhale slowly.
By slowly exhaling, the vagus nerve sends signals to the brain which reduces the heart rate and blood pressure. You’ll feel less frazzled and more awake. In fact, vagus nerve stimulation is often used to treat drug-resistant depression symptoms.
5. Press Your Hands Together for 30 Seconds
Pressing your hands together in front of your chest is called an isometric exercise. Isometric exercises are those that don’t involve motion, but still require strong muscle contraction.
Here’s what to do:
- Sit up straight in your chair
- Hold your hands in front of your chest and push your palms together
- Press firmly or just until you start shaking (you’ll see what I mean)
- Hold for 10 seconds
- Repeat 5 times
This isometric exercise will open you blood vessels, get your heart pumping faster and harder, and help you feel refreshed and awake.
6. Do 10 Kegel Exercises
This is a great one! No one will know you’re doing it, and you’ll feel ready to go and wide awake after only 10 repetitions.
Kegel exercises target the pelvic floor and are usually recommended for those who can’t seem to hold in their urine. But that doesn’t mean you have waited until you’re old and incontinent to get the benefits from this great exercise.
To contract your pelvic muscles, think trying to hold in a number 2.
This muscle stimulation immediately releases a flood of energy in your body similar to the feelings immediately preceding sex.
Repeat this effort 10 times.
You’ll definitely feel ready to go after just a repetitions.