Do you feel exhausted before the day is over? Too pooped to play on weekends? Women of all ages seem to be suffering from an energy deficit these days. Work and school demands, children’s needs, maintaining a household, money pressures, sustaining personal relationships, health concerns… to be honest, it’s amazing that any of us can sleep. Fatigue has become the norm for many otherwise healthy women and most of us have simply accepted feeling tired for months or even years. However, it is time for this to stop and we are here to help you do exactly that by learning how to naturally reclaim your energy.
Work It Out
Getting more exercise can actually help you to feel more energetic, even though most people tend to think… “I’m feeling so fatigued, how am I going to bring myself to exercise?” (We are most people). Part of the reason for this effect comes from what happens when you exercise: your heart pumps more oxygen and nutrients into your bloodstream, your lungs and cardiovascular system work better, and you feel more energetic. What’s more, the type of physical activity that works best for alleviating fatigue is not that intense exercise that people feel they must do. Research has found that it is more beneficial, for restoring energy, to perform exercise at a leisurely pace.
Restorative Nutrition
Instead of adding calories to your daily food intake, you can help alleviate tiredness by better balancing the nutrients you take in. Nutrients that can help restore your energy and reduce fatigue include mood-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin D, B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. Food sources are superior to supplements, and it is important to ensure you are getting more antioxidants from whole plant foods and by cutting foods containing a lot of sugar or white flour is essential for reigniting your energy levels. Try to eat at least two fruits or vegetables at every meal, eat one fruit or vegetable at snack times, drink water all day, always eat breakfast and eat mini meals throughout the day to keep blood sugar levels and energy up.
Women’s Energy Issues
Some low-energy problems arise at specific times in women’s lives. For menstrual-related fatigue, tiredness can be due to hormonal changes, so it is recommended to eat small, frequent meals containing proteins and drink water to stay hydrated. For pregnancy, feeling run-down may be due to iron-deficiency anemia, so check with your health care provider and take prescribed vitamins. While nursing, you need more fluid because you’re giving out a lot of your body’s fluid through breast milk. When you become dehydrated, you feel exhausted so drink around 3 litres of water throughout the day. For menopause and beyond, eat regular meals and small snacks. Aim to have three food groups at every meal and two food groups for snacks. A variety of foods will give you the nutrients to stay active.
Get Outside
Studies show that we are happier, overall, with longer daylight hours. A natural treatment for depression and fatigue is exposure to bright light every day. So whenever possible, get outside! Fresh air and sunlight are some of the most natural ways in which you can boost your energy levels. Go for a walk and remember to breathe deeply. That fresh oxygen will help to invigorate your body, as well as your mental state, and the sunshine is the best source of Vitamin D, another natural mood booster.
Use Essential Oils
Essential oils are a healthy and organic way to give your energy a boost. Peppermint, citrus, ginger and eucalyptus are excellent choices for increasing feelings of wakefulness. Essential oils can be applied directly to the skin, such as on the temples or on the back of your neck, can be added to a bath or used with a diffuser in a room in your home or office. Essential oils have been proven to help reduce fatigue and are a natural way to invigorate your senses and help you to feel more alert.