How To Increase Energy Levels And Become More High Energy

Energy describes levels of strength and an ability to perform at an optimal level. This can be apply on both a mental and physical level. The importance of energy shouldn’t be understated.

People who are more energetic tend to perform better overall in many areas of life. Those who are more energetic tend to be more productive and efficient. Energy can have an impact on work performance, word retrieval, grades, labor intensive tasks and the list goes on.

Increased energy levels can bring positive change to people lives. It’s important to know that energy levels can be increased by implementing lifestyle changes. You don’t need to do anything too fancy to maximize your energy levels.

Here’s the deal, let’s focus on raising energy but also remember that having a maximum when it comes to energy level is okay. It’s important to note that anything that promises to absolutely skyrocket energy levels should be approached with caution. Many times these may not be healthy for you and even if they were you may not need them if you just take care of yourself.

Ways to increase energy levels

Here are ways to become more energetic.

1. Determine if you have a medical issue

This is an important first step. Before any other efforts, make sure you discuss any concerns you may have about energy levels with a doctor. One lazy day every once in a while shouldn’t be a problem, but if it recurs too often consult a medical professional.

2. Control stress

Stress is a massive drainer of energy. There’s a whole list of stress control and relief strategies you can implement in your life to at least help you cope and possibly even eliminate stress. You might want to ask your doctor about this or do some research on your own.

Some strategies you can try are muscle relaxation, relaxed breathing (doesn’t have to be deep, you can just relax your chest and shoulder muscles and let yourself breathe), calmly releasing emotions, journaling your emotions, etc. Not a comprehensive list but this is a whole other topic you might want to look further into if stress is a problem for you.

3. Sleep enough

The importance of sleep shouldn’t be understated. When people are tired they usually want to sleep. It’s common sense but this relationship exists for good reason; sleep is important for energy.

It’s pivotal for energy levels. Make sure you get the recommended 7.5-8.5 hours of sleep. Make a point of working your schedule out in such a way that you will be in bed at a reasonable time to be able to get a good amount of sleep.

4. Exercise

Make sure your exercise routine is healthy for you. Don’t over-exercise or exercise with underlying health issues (this can be anywhere from energy draining to downright dangerous). An amount of exercise that suits you without going over the top can make noticeable changes in energy levels. Make an effort to at least go for a brisk walk either outside or in your house. Just get the blood moving to help you feel more energized.

5. Lay down a little

Throughout the day, standing and moving around can take energy levels away. Lying down for a few minutes a day can help you relax yourself and your body. While you lie down, try to relax your muscles, which brings us to our next point.

6. Relax your muscles

Tension in the muscles can make people feel stressed. Not only can it cause stress which then drains energy levels, the flexing of muscles uses energy which can be used for more important things. It is important to remember to keep your muscles relaxed. If you feel any tension, immediately relax yourself.

Relaxing muscles doesn’t need an absurd amount of brainpower. Simply be aware when you are tense and then just relax your muscles. Every few minutes, do a self-analysis of your own body and, if you notice any tension, relax the muscles you feel tension in. Try to set reminders for yourself to do this every few minutes.

7. Don’t sit for too long

Sitting can be pretty impactful in terms of lowering energy levels. It may seem odd considering sitting is a form of resting but the first problem is sitting for too long is not healthy. It is important to keep blood flowing and sitting with little to know movement doesn’t encourage blood flow very well.

Second, sitting often requires bending the knees and increases the chances that the head will be in bad position and the body slouched over. Keeping the head lowered can decrease mental energy so it’s important to keep your neck relaxed and your head up. Slouching and compressing your chest can make lung expansion more difficult.

If you must sit for long periods of time due to a job or some other responsibility, make sure you are cognizant of how you are sitting. I suggest doing some research on best practices for sitting, maybe bring up a diagram as well. This way you know the best way to sit. 

You can even consider getting a standing desk – preferably one that allows you to sit or stand depending on your setting. If you become aware of any issues with the way you’re sitting, fix them immediately.

8. Take time off screens

You may have to work in front of a screen and that’s fine. Try to find ways to control the brightness, place the screen at a good eye level and take breaks when you can. Taking a screen break can be as simple as looking away at something in the distance for a few seconds every few minutes.

Any time you don’t absolutely need to be looking at a screen, avoid doing so. Screens can tire the eyes which in turn makes people feel tired as well. This is an issue with high brightness levels but also normal levels of brightness. Screens can be big energy drainers. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever use a screen, but minimizing your time on them is best.

9. Take breaks

To avoid burnout and also to allow the body a chance to recuperate its energy; breaks are very important. This has two meanings. The first is breaks in your day. Every hour or two of work should come with a generous 15 to 20 minute break. You can also take a 10 minute break after each 50 minutes of work. Whatever your schedule and responsibilities allow is fine, but make sure you try your best to allocate time for breaks.

The second way I intended this is taking breaks on a larger timescale. If you work for 5 days make an effort to rest two. If you have other responsibilities on weekends then rest at least one day. Every few weeks you should find a way to take a week off. If you have kids, find a way to rest with them nearby while you watch them.

10. Breathe clean air

Allergens and other airborne irritants can drain energy. Breathing clean, healthy air, on the other hand, can actually help energy levels. Another big one is mold. This can actually cause many health ailments, among them fatigue.

Try to find a fan that filters allergens and make sure any air conditioning units you may have are using a filter that is replaced properly when needed. For mold, it is important to actually clean the source rather than filter the air. There are mold control strategies you can try. Read up on some of those if you have a mold problem. You could also hire a professional if the problem in your house is large scale.

There’s also some great general tips which can help with air quality. Again, a filtering fan or an air conditioning fan even if you don’t have allergies. If you live in an area with good air quality, crack open the windows during the day. Let the air flow in your house. Get a house plant and place it close to a source of natural light.

11. Eat right

Food is not just a source of energy itself, it’s also a source of nutrients needed to help energy levels. It’s important to make sure you are eating a balanced diet which includes a sufficient amount of vegetables and some fruits. Make sure you read nutrition labels or search up nutritional values of food. Minimizing processed sugar levels in your diet could also help.

12. Maintain good posture

When sitting it’s important to maintain a good posture, sure. But it’s also important to maintain a good posture in general (sitting, walking, whatever). Posture is important to assure breathing and blood flow are occurring optimally. Both of these have a strong impact on energy.

Keep your shoulders relaxed. Your chest should be slightly (not too much) pushed out. Do not slouch your body. Make sure you don’t push down on your stomach or curve it inward. Your head should stay up – not down towards the ground or your phone. If you’re using your phone, hold it up to allow you to keep your head up. You may not want to do this in public with people around, though, as this can make it look like you’re taking a picture or video of someone. Make sure your neck is straight and relaxed.