E for Energy Levels : Energy Slump Correction

They say good energy is contagious. And ‘Energy’ in itself is a whole concept - in the truest sense, it encompasses the physical, metaphysical, spiritual, emotional, mental and even cosmic.

But, today I want to focus on the physical. The everyday energy that drives us, gets us out of bed, and through our day.

Our physical energy though related to the body is affected quite directly by three aspects of our existence - the physical, the emotional and the mental. At any given point in time, all three play an equally important role, but the catch is that an imbalance in either of the three manifests physically.

If you’ve ever faced sudden fatigue during the day, a tiredness that prevents you from getting out of bed in the morning, a need to jump into bed as soon as you get home, or an inability to do anything once you are done with your day, then you know ‘energy slump’.

But even if neither of these, most people face what we now term as the afternoon slump - a sudden fatigue or need to rest after lunch.

Identifying which of the three - mental, physical or emotional needs extra attention is a necessary first step. But there is much we can do to correct the slump through diet, lifestyle changes and daily routine that can benefit us tremendously.

Let’s look at some top tips :

1. Early Rising : The number of grandmas, uncles, aunties, athletes, high performing individuals, and life-coaches that speak about this one habit is mind-blowing! Why?

   Reason : The benefits of syncing your body’s circadian rhythm with sunrise and sunset are tremendous - they determine the sleeping and feeding patterns of all animals, including human beings. There are clear patterns of brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration and other biological activities linked to this daily cycle. So, technically our bodies LOVE regularity, and predictability of routine because it regulates essential bodily processes. Any disruption has far reaching consequences, and maintenance has life-long benefits.

2. Low Impact Stretching : Stretching - athletes swear by it, it’s the beginning of every yoga session, and the most enjoyable part of every workout. But what’s a great way to use it to uplift your energy?

   How : Stretching in the morning as soon as you wake up, relieves the body’s muscles of stiffness, and tension from last night’s sleep. It infuses them with blood flow, warms them up, sends a signal of wakening and kickstarts your body for the day ahead. It is especially useful for back conditions. Also, movement of the body psychologically helps you bring focus back to the present moment, and away from errands, routine, task-lists. This routine can help you build moments of mindfulness that stay through the day to maintain physical and mental health.

3. Breathing Practice : Everyone talks about this, everyone knows it, yet it’s so difficult to follow and boring right? Most tend to use it only before a big meeting or in an anxious situation.

   Here’s the catch : The idea of a breathing practice is to multiply and enhance “positive energy”. But most of us use it only in situations where we are trying to combat worries. Here’s the thing - breathing is a way to regulate your heart rate. And, a stable heart rate is what is at the centre of better emotional management, better physical stress relief and mental clarity. Incorporating a breathing practice as small as 5 min, early in the morning will help develop a grounding energy to last you all day.

4. Snacking Right : The most marketed, most discussed, and most mis-followed.

   Reason : So, a great snack is not one that is heavy on protein, or has nuts, or has no sugar or is gluten free or worse yet is < ‘x’ calories where ‘x’ is an arbit number determined by every individual randomly. A great snack serves 3 great purposes : 1. Provides energy, 2. Acts as an opportunity to bridge nutrient gaps, 3. Something that makes you happy because your belly is full, blood sugar levels are stable, via 100% clean ingredients. That’s right 100% , not 98% not 99%, not even 99.99%. :)

   Also timing - snacks end up being meal replacements, they shouldn’t be. A great quality snack has whole grains, whole fruits or veggies, balanced proportions of macros, nutrients, no unintelligible ingredients. Ideally tolerance to preservatives and the like should be 0 or as close to it as possible!

5. Relaxing Activities : Take breaks - everyone says this, but incorporating breaks can seem time consuming, or you may forget it.

   How : Spend atleast 10 mins out for a walk, in the morning/evening sun, watch it rain or stare out the window. Allow ‘nothingness’ to be a part of your schedule. Take some time off during the day - introduce what I’d like to call ‘circuit breakers’ into your life. So you can pause and enjoy it guilt-free.

6. Bonus Tip : Peppermint Oil : (Disclaimer : Not for kids) A dab of 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil on the palm of your hand/hanky and taking a slight whiff can help energize you

   Reason : Peppermint oil can uplift your senses and energize you instantly. Use it sparingly, but on afternoons that you are looking for that extra boost.

Recipe for a healthy afternoon snack :

Packed with protein, whole grains, good fats and spices!