When your energy starts to dip and you’re finding it difficult to concentrate or accomplish the things you’d planned, oftentimes grabbing a quick sugar boost or other high-calorie reward food can seem like the simplest fix. Unfortunately, overtime, those added calories and blood sugar spikes can start to cause weight gain, and perhaps stress and digestive issues, as well.
Many days at work, my energy would crash mid-afternoon, I’d suffer brain fog and be unable to focus or get anything done–classic symptoms of low blood sugar and caffeine crash. When that’d happen I’d go for a quick pick-me-up of a candy bar or sweetened drink to get me through the afternoon. As I did so, day in and day out, my tummy started to get a little flabbier, the scale started to creep up, and that made me stressed out, which didn’t help my digestion that was already struggling with the extra food.
Maintaining Energy Without Snacking
Eating Moderate Meals
Eat moderate-sized meals rich in protein and fats, which stabilize blood sugar and therefore energy levels, instead of carb-heavy meals with can trigger a blood sugar roller coaster.
Take a Walk Outside
The combination of movement, fresh air, and sun can be enough to get the blood moving again and remind your brain it’s still daytime, which means work time.
Yoga
Stretch your arms overhead and arch your back. In yoga, backbends are considered energizing and with the arms overhead, it further draws the blood higher up in the body.
Drink water and Tea
Oftentimes, brain fog can be the result of dehydration since nerve and brain cells conduct their message via electric current which travels on water.
Coffee can lead to a steep caffeine crash, whereas tea contains L-Theanine, which moderates the effects of caffeine to increase memory and concentration. If you’re worried about the caffeine in tea late afternoon, I developed Belight Tea, which cuts the caffeine by 2/3, but ups the energetic potential with non-stimulating herbs. Belight can also help to curb cravings that might otherwise send you to the cookie jar.
Breathe Deeply
Shallow or delayed breaths will decrease your oxygen levels, which also impedes thinking and focus. Try some deep breaths starting each with long, forceful inhales to help restore oxygen levels and wake you up.
Get Enough Sleep
If you’re not getting adequate sleep each night, the above list is going to be limited in its potential to help you feel alert and awake; 7-8 hours is critical. Napping can help you achieve 8 totals hours of sleep.
Keep these tips handy for the next time your energy is feeling low or you’re tempted to reach for a sugary snack. Skip the needless calories, honor your body, and restore your energy levels with movement, breathing, and something to drink.
