10 EASY WAYS TO REGAIN ENERGY AND VITALITY

There’s often one major thing that gets in the way of you achieving the goals you’ve set for yourself - and that’s a lack of energy and vitality. Having vitality is all about physical and mental strength and your capacity to move forward in life with meaning and purpose. Your vitality is your power to live and grow.

Did you know that a healthy metabolism is the foundation for feeling great and having lots of energy? Maca is a powerful South American superfood that supports energy metabolism to improve endurance, stamina and libido, all while reducing stress. 

It’s not only the ideal natural supplement for athletes, but it’s great for anyone looking to support their hormones and balance their energy. This superfood contains the essential vitamins B1, B2, C & E, as well as iron, selenium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Maca also contains alkaloids which have shown to improve mental health in scientific studies. Keen to try it out? Get yours here!

Although most people have long forgotten the power of their breath, the art of deep breathing has increased energy and vitality for many generations of people around the world. Pay attention to how you’re breathing right now. Is it deep and diaphragmatic, or is it shallow? Is your breathing rapid or slow? Quiet or noisy?

Shallow breathing is connected with mental stress and physical tension, and it prevents the body from getting enough oxygen. Breathing deep into your belly slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, and improves your circulation. While one big breath may not be enough to bring on the energy boost you’re after, these quick and easy breathing exercises will do the trick! To completely recharge the mind, body and soul on a deeper level, look into Biodynamic Breath-work.

It’s time we all grow up and start sleeping like babies. While we sleep, our brains are rebooted, and our bodies are repaired. We all know that getting enough high quality sleep is not only crucial for our energy and vitality today, but is also an essential ingredient in our long-term health and longevity. And yet - it’s often the first thing to drop off our list of priorities. What’s getting in the way of you becoming a sleep superstar?

Even though we know sleep is crucial for our health; sometimes it isn’t as easy as it could be. Here are 10 ways to improve your sleep and get your best rest yet.

Did you know that dehydration is a common cause of fatigue and irritability? Not drinking enough water is often overlooked as the reason we have low energy and poor mental clarity. A common misconception is that you need to be running around in the heat or working out to be at risk of dehydration, but research shows that those sitting down at a desk can experience the same symptoms.

There are so many ways drinking more water can make you feel fabulous, so why not combine some of these energy-boosting blends with water for a double-shot of real energy!

Depending on caffeine to get through the day could be the reason you’re low on energy

There’s no need to ditch coffee dates with your mates, but depending on caffeine to get through the day could be the reason you’re low on energy. The caffeine in coffee tricks you into thinking you have energy by blocking adenosine, the neurotransmitter responsible for letting your brain known when the body needs rest.  Over time, the effects of caffeine can lead to hormonal imbalances, poor sleep quality and increased stress and anxiety - all of which drain us of our natural energy and vitality. 

If drinking coffee is a daily ritual for you, it can be challenging to go without - even when you know it could be harming your energy and wellbeing! As it’s a psychoactive drug, it’s easy to develop an addiction. Fortunately, many delicious alternatives can help you reduce your caffeine intake while supporting the systems of your body.

On top of not staining your teeth, matcha tea contains only a third of the caffeine coffee does. It also contains an important phytonutrient called L-theanine, which releases caffeine very slowly to avoid spikes and crashes. 

However, if you’re looking to cut caffeine entirely, herbal teas are your best bet. Select a blend to cleanse and detoxify your system if you are feeling sluggish, or a warming blend to support and protect your immune system if you’ve lost energy from being unwell. There are even herbal infusions to help you sleep your way back to vitality!

While caffeine stimulates the central nervous system into flight or fight mode, ginseng is a medicinal herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries. Ginseng provides real energy by building you up, while caffeine tricks your brain out of feeling sleepy and slowly breaks you down. 

Ginseng is anabolic,  meaning it builds energy in the body to support health and vitality. The synthesis of amino acids into complex proteins is an example of an anabolic process. Caffeine, on the other hand, is catabolic. Catabolic processes break down complex compounds to release energy and are regulated by the stress hormones cortisol and adrenalin. 

Ginseng is just one of many adaptogenic herbs, so experiment with a few to find the best ones for you. Rhodiola Rosea is one that counteracts the physical and mental effects of stress, while Reishi mushroom supports immune health for whole-body vitality.

Are you aware of the dangers of sitting too much? Not even a high-intensity daily workout can counteract the damaging effects of hours and hours of inactivity. Moving more isn’t just about going to the gym. If you work at a computer, for example, standing up to stretch every 30-60 minutes, taking every little opportunity to walk around, and taking the stairs instead of the lift all add up in a big way!

All this movement increases your non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), which does so much more for your health than just restoring your energy. In fact, it can be just as effective for fat loss as doing deliberate cardio.

 ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.’- Hippocrates

 ‘Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.’ - Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

 ‘You only get out what you put in.’ - Every successful person, ever

If 2020 is the year you choose energy and vitality over peer pressure and convenience, then let these quotes sink in. The more nutritious foods we eat, the less we crave junk foods and fill up on processed grains, refined sugars, and salty snacks. Choose organic fruit and vegetables, along with the natural foods that make you feel your best. There is no cookie-cutter ‘ideal diet’, so listen to what your body is asking for, rather than what your tastebuds are craving. 

Foods high in Iodine, Folate, and B vitamins are always great choices if you want to increase your energy and vitality. Low energy can also be a symptom of not getting enough calories to meet your energy requirements, so make sure you’re fuelling your mind and body well.

Tip: Want to start each day with a sustained energy boost? Choose a plant-based protein that’s packed full of superfoods for a caffeine-free vitality buzz.

Embrace every aspect of who you really are inside, learn to practice radical self-love

Fear of being seen for who we really are makes many of us put on different masks for different parts of our lives. We might have our work mask, our relationship mask, and all the other masks we wear to fit in socially. How exhausting!

Embrace every aspect of who you really are inside, learn to practice radical self-love, and stop holding back from expressing how you feel. Removing your masks will help you socialise more wisely and spend less time with people who drain your energy. You’ll be amazed at how much more energy and vitality you can access by simply being yourself, honouring your basic needs and establishing healthy boundaries.