By
Paula Hynes
AS Autumn with it's breathless colours of flames and golds comes to
an end, we await the arrival of Winter and it's own definitive beauty.
Yes,
there is no point kidding ourselves, it will be pretty damp and, at
times, downright. It will be cold and chilly and for some the task of
dragging ourselves out of bed in the dark mornings will get more and
more difficult. The glare of oncoming headlamps will play havoc with
your eyes as you head homeward bound during the dark evenings in manic
traffic. And as you reluctantly adjust to the shorter days and lack of
natural daylight and sunlight, you are also faced with the fact that
Christmas, and it's inevitable rush, is heading this way, as it always
does, at full speed!
All the ingredients to ensure a good dose of
winter fatigue I'm sure you'll agree - but help is at hand! It doesn't
have to be unbearable. If you are feeling a little lack lustre, yawning
at a ferocious rate and basically have just about enough energy in the
evenings to slump down on the sofa in front of the box, you'll be
tickled pink you opened this page! You can bring back that 'joie de
vivre' and add a little peppering of genuine verve back into your life
by trying some (or indeed all) of these 20 simple ways to boost your
energy levels this winter!
1) SLEEP - Get as much sleep as you need to and remember your body really needs it at this time of year.
2)
VITAMINS - Supplements such as Vitamins A, B and E are all important
for well-being. If you want to avoid supplements, however, you can
ensure that you eat the necessary foods containing these essentials. Try
using 1 teaspoon of Brewers Yeast in a glass of milk or water, it's
full of Vitamin B and good for digestion too.
3) LAUGHTER - Bring
on the laughter and smiles, it's the most natural way to help
depression, anxiety and, believe it or not, it lowers blood pressure
too!
4) STRETCH - One really effective way to beat fatigue is to
try a Yoga pose known as the 'Standing Stretch'. Stand in the correct
posture, that is, with your toes pointed out in front of you, your knees
relaxed and your feet at hip distance. Ensure the weight is balanced
evenly between the ball and the heel of your foot. Interlace your thumbs
and stretch your hands up above your head while keeping your arms
against your ears - and stretch upwards from the lumbar area of your
lower back. Keeping your breath even throughout, now slowly release the
arms down in front of you. Tuck your chin into your chestbone and gently
lower yourself down, vertebrae by vertebrae keeping arms hanging
loosely and then just hang from the waist. This position encourages the
blood flow to the head and is a real winner when you need to energise
yourself. After one minute slowly bring yourself back up into a standing
position, imagining as you do so that each vertebrae is stacking itself
upon the next until you are eventually upright and repeat three times.
5) DIET - Check your Diet and be sure over the winter months to include at least five portions of fruit and vegetables everyday.
6)
AROMATHERAPY - Use pure Essential Oils as often as you need them.
Burning Peppermint or Rosemary oils is excellent for alertness and both
also aid concentration. As these oils are energising oils it is best not
to use them in the evening if you are planning to have a good nights
sleep.
7) THE MAGIC OF WATER - Don't forget the recommended amount is approximately two litres per day.
8) AVOID toxic people because, quiet simply, they can completely drain you of energy.
9)
EXERCISE - Get plenty of exercise - There's no escaping it. The health
gurus recommend that we all need to include at least 15 minutes
exercise, three or four times a week.
10) LEARN TO SAY 'NO' more
often. As the old saying goes 'those that matter won't mind and those
that mind don't matter'. You'll be amazed at how much energy you can
recoup and even more amazed to discover that if you say 'no' the world
will keep on turning.
11) COMBAT PARTY NIGHTS - If you've had a
late night on the Town try drinking at least two glasses of water before
crawling up to bed, it will make the following day far more bearable.
12)
BREAKFAST - We've known from a very early age that we should never miss
Breakfast. No matter how tight you are for time try not to skip it. For
a quick energy-inducing breakfast grab a mug of hot water with honey
and lemon and a quick bowl of cereal, ideally with fibre.
13)
REDUCE your intake of Caffeine. While it may give a quick boost, a lot
of caffeine daily actually ends up having a negative effect on your
energy level. You might even try substituting a couple of cups a day
with a herbal tea, such as sage to raise spirits, peppermint to aid
digestion or chamomile to enable you to unwind.
14) LEARN - Meditation and Relaxation techniques - they'll be invaluable not just today but for life.
15)
MOTHER NATURE - Get out there and make the most of the short daylight
hours. Overdose on fresh air. There is nothing more revitalizing than
taking the time, even if it's only 15 minutes a day, to soak in our
beautiful scenery and breathe in the fabulous scents of the season.
16)
MASSAGE - It's a wonderful way of keeping the immune system in ship
shape order and the body supple and healthy. So go on invest in your
health and schedule a massage once a month for optimum results.
17) DIGESTION - Be kind to your digestive system. Eat slowly and avoid late night eating as much as possible.
18) STRESS - Manage your stress levels and become aware of your react to stress. Remember stress is infectious!
19)
MANAGE TIME EFFECTIVELY - Avoid using up your lovely energy by rushing
to every appointment. Aim to leave about fifteen minutes earlier, not
only will you arrive in plenty of time - you'll be completely
unfrazzled.
20) CONCIOUS BREATHING - Believe it or not most of us
don't breathe properly. With the speed of modern day life most adults
are chest breathers which means the breath doesn't make it right down
into the abdomen. Become conscious of your breath each day by taking a
little time to become aware of your breathing habits. The following
short exercise will benefit you in many ways as well as helping to
re-energise your mind, body and soul...Firstly r-e-l-a-x your entire
body by taking a deep breath into your stomach. As you slowly release it
imagine it traveling up along your spine, relaxing all the muscles as
you go and bringing attention to the shoulders by consciously dropping
them into a relaxed position. Follow your breath and think about
bringing the breath down into the bottom of the lungs and really feel
the tummy rising and then exhale fully and slowly. After just a few
minutes resume your regular activities and feel the difference.
Now
you'll be ready to welcome the coming months with open arms and revel
in the wonderful delights this season has to offer leaving you
invigorated and ready to enjoy this Winter. You won't know yourself - I
promise!
EzineArticles
o Your family and friends can help you with the seventh tip, have fun and enjoy life.
o Your family and friends can help you with the seventh tip, have fun and enjoy life.
