I think something we all experience as adults is A LOT of exhaustion. Some more than others and for myself I think I fit in that category. I find from talking and living with different people that I am one of those individuals that seem to need more sleep and more rest. Even when I used to train on teams I simply found I needed more recovery than my other teammates.
So here I am living an extremely busy lifestyle as a student, coach and athlete. Just balancing these three things are difficult in itself but on top of this my job as a coach is a HIGH ENERGY ENVIRONMENT. I work with kids between 2-18+ (okay all ages but most of the time I am with children under 12). Working with children is an extremely draining job even though it certainly is rewarding. As well the fact that what I am training for triathlons which is not 1 but 3 distance sports… Basically I have somehow chosen all the things made to tire you out.
Realizing this I wanted to share my techniques for keeping my energy up in day to day life to hopefully help you to be as awake and productive and happy as possible!
Disclosure: I do take iron and B12 supplements every morning PRESCRIBED by my doctor. For me these made a huge difference but I will not recommend below as I do believe you should consult a professional before starting any supplementation.
COFFEE & TEA
Worst first tip ever am I right. I personally am an avid coffee and tea drinker - THAT saying I find whenever I have workouts scheduled in the morning I can skip the caffeine. What I do recommend for those winter months however is to find a special DECAF tea that you enjoy. For me being able to sip a hot drink soothes my throat (after either a long day of coaching or a long heavy breathing workout) and somehow motivates me as I work at home.
NAAK BARS
NAAK (read about this awesome brand here) recently released two new flavours one being mocha hazelnut; and let me just say this is a life changer. I have been consuming Naak products for 3 years now and no matter the flavour these bars give me long lasting natural energy in which I would replace a sugary granola bar with in a second. However now that I have a caffeinated option of their products this has just taken the energy to the next step. I like to have these when I work long mornings as a filling energy efficient snack. I highly recommend trying them out! Also you can get 10$ off your first order using the code MADFORNAAK at the checkout!
NAPPING
Napping is an underrated energy hack that I probably overuse. If you haven’t yet, read my blog post about rest where I really talk about napping properly. I take a 30 minute approach and I find even if I do not fall asleep I go into a very deeply relaxed state. Sometimes I still feel sleepy directly afterward but give it some time and I always feel much more refreshed and productive! I used to nap for like 3-4 hours at a time and it was a waste of daylight, made me groggy and affected my sleep the following night. My 30 minute technique has been working wonders.
SUNLIGHT & LIVING SPACE
Open the blinds, when it's day time we need to see the sun, or at least the lightness if you live where it's always cloudy like Victoria (lol). We need to see daylight while its day time, my blinds are always up from the moment I wake up until I go to bed, when it's warm months I open the window too. Fresh air helps energy levels as well. Try and go outside for around 30 minutes a day - this one is easier for me as I live in a mild climate and commute to work on a bike. However even when I lived in Ontario I would do all my runs in the snow UNLESS there was a dangerous cold warning.
Something else on the topic of lifestyle that will help with energy is your actual living space. Keeping a tidy space is a simple action that will help you feel more refreshed. For me, coming home or waking up to a dingy space makes me want to lie down and hide away. However when my house is tidy I can get right on what I need to do. When my space is clear my head is clear.
NUTRITION
I have one word for you: VEGGIES. This seems simple but vegetables give you energy. I used to eat a lot of mr noodles… then I switched to more whole meals and wow the difference. Have vegetables (and fruits) available, fresh and frozen and incorporate them into EVERY MEAL. Veggies are the best natural energy!!
I hope that you can take something from these tips that I use to help keep up with my highly active lifestyle and start feeling more energized in your day to day life. Leave a comment or message me on Instagram if you have any other tips and tricks!
Peace!
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