5 Natural ways to boost your energy

It's really no surprise that we are all tired, with the busy lives that we take on. Work, kids, relationships, family, school, trying to run a business, paying bills, and running errands... Ugh I'm exhausted just reading all of that! Keep in mind, it is OK and natural to get tired. We aren't meant to be running around like crazy people all of the time. And we need to rest sometimes, I mean truly rest!! I love promoting a healthy lifestyle, but I am here to tell you, you could be the healthiest person in the world and you will still get tired and get sick sometimes. We aren't superhuman and to put that expectation on ourselves is not fair or realistic. We live in a time of constant exposure to toxins in our everyday lives.  And we don't focus enough on self-care and balance. So I'm going to share with you a few things that can help restore some of that balance and energy, to get you feeling more like your true self again!

1. Reduce Caffeine 

I know, it seems like it should be the other way around right? Not so much, a lot of us wonder why our minds are racing a mile a minute, we have anxiety, and we can't sleep at night, but yet we are having 3-5 cups of coffee a day (or drinking soda all of the time.) This can cause some serious adrenal fatigue! Our adrenal glands are responsible for controlling our fight or flight hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.  When you stress out the adrenals, they can't keep up with producing enough of the hormones we need to feel good. This can also contribute to weight gain or unwanted weight loss. 

Things you can do to help curb your caffeine addiction

• Drink green tea or other tea that has a lower dose caffeine in the morning instead of coffee.
• Drink a glass of water before having any coffee or soda. You can try warm water, if that helps.
• Drink a smoothie or a fresh green juice in the morning to wake you up!
• Start a workout routine. This will help get the blood flowing and naturally increase your energy throughout the day.​ ​

​2. Quality Sleep ...and more of it.
It seems so obvious but for most of us (Me included!!!) 6 hours or less is not going to cut it.  We need sleep! This is a magical time when our bodies heal and restore. There are so many studies that show getting an adequate amount of sleep helps cut down on disease and illness, slows down the aging process, effects our mood, and helps reduce on inflammation in the body. So calm the F down and get some sleep :)..Trust me, I have no shame in my sleeping game, and my body thanks me for it!

Ways to get better sleep

• Unplug: try putting your phone in a different room,  and turning off your tv.
• Try to be done eating dinner by 7pm so your food is already digested by the time you go to sleep. 
• Have some sleepy time tea before you to lay down. 
• Buy ear plugs: If you are a light sleeper or if you have a snoring significant other and/or a gassy dog ;) (Not naming any names....cough** Ellie)...(My gassy boxer)
• Put an essential oil diffuser in your room, diffuse relaxing scents, like lavender or sandalwood. 
• Buy blue light blocking glasses. We are exposed to way too much artificial light during the night and day, which suppresses the secretion of melatonin (the hormone that helps us fall asleep). These glasses help to block that light and encourage the secretion in melatonin. 

3. Eat More Greens!
​Greens are like a miracle drug for anything. When in doubt , eat more greens! Dark leafy greens are packed full of vitamins and nutrients, that help fight of disease and inflammation. They also are full of antioxidants which help rid the body of toxins that weigh us down and make us feel sluggish, not to mention all of the fiber to keep your digestion on point.  Remember to buy organic when possible.

Examples of Dark leafy Greens

• Kale 
• Spinach 
• Arugula
• Collards 
• Microgreens
• You can add them to smoothies or fresh juices​

​4. Make sure your getting enough Vitamin D, B12, And Iron
You could be deficient in other vitamins, but these 3 are the most common, so I would start with them.  Vitamin D can be a big one for people who live in colder climates, being deficient in this can cause chronic fatigue. B12 is something a lot of people are deficient in due to the lack of it in our soil :( having enough of it can help prevent being anemic which leads us to Iron. Iron is a big one especially for women, especially during the that time of the month. Iron helps carry oxygen to the red blood cells, so make sure you are getting enough from your diet and if not, its ok to take good quality supplements. 

5. Exercise 
Another obvious one. But very helpful when it comes to energy levels and your mood! Exercising increases the release of endorphins which gives you a feeling of euphoria (runners high). But once your body gets used to a regular workout routine, it will be excepting it, so you will find you have more energy to burn.

• When you workout you get your blood flowing and pumping, carrying more oxygen throughout the body improving mental clarity. heart health and stable energy levels throughout the day.  
• My favorite part, working out will help you sleep! You get better sleep when you workout, due to the fact you burned that energy and your body is healing the muscles that you trained. Better sleep equals more energy and a better mood!
• Find a exercise routine that you enjoy and mix it up so you don't get bored. Maybe even hire a personal trainer to help get you started. 

I hope these tips help you to feel more energized and just healthier all around! Because lets be honest, health is EVERYTHING...not feeling well sucks, and who doesn't want more energy to spend time doing the things you love, with the people they love!.. I know I do :) Let me what you think and feel free to share your tips and tricks on feeling healthier and more energized in the comments below! Xo -Sabrina