Member Rating:
Boosting Energy Through Fitness
Three quick tips for fighting fatigue naturally
We all know that feeling of fatigue — waking up bleary–eyed in the morning, fighting the urge to nod off during a meeting or collapsing on the couch after the latest round of carpools. We are all on a quest for more energy, and promises of magical sources, from the latest in energy bars to vitamin waters and pills and potions, are everywhere.
What if you could boost your energy using just your own body? Turns out you can. Nature’s own remedy for fatigue is exercise, and it doesn’t cost a cent. Exercise equals energy, period. There is nothing like moving your muscles to get oxygen into your lungs and through your body. Increased oxygen use means vibrancy and cell renewal at its best. With exercise, you invigorate your muscles and your brain. Feel–good hormones abound. After all, they don’t call it runner’s high for nothing!
Now you might be saying, “But I don’t have the energy to exercise.” It’s a catch–22, isn’t it? You know that exercise will give you energy, but you don’t have the energy to exercise. Try these tips:
1. Start small. If you don’t feel like exercising, tell yourself you’ll just do five minutes. And then get out there and do it! The next thing you know, you may decide that since you’re already moving, you might as well go a bit longer.
2. Seriously consider the time of day that you exercise. If you have kids, for example, evenings may not be the best time. The kids are in bed but you are exhausted. You may need to get creative. My client Shari, a mother of two, swears by scheduling two workouts a week right after her children get on the school bus. “It’s the only time I set aside for me. I consider it my therapy time,” she says. Early mornings may be another option, but that doesn’t have to mean every morning. Try planning one early morning workout a week, another in the late afternoon and a third over the weekend. You’ve got three workouts without undue strain on any one part of your schedule.
3. Get out there and walk. Exercise doesn’t get any simpler than lacing up and hitting a brisk pace for even just 10 or 20 minutes. And walking is a great way to decompress mentally as well. If the kids are driving you crazy, pop them in the stroller or have them tag along as you all take a power walk. You’ll be amazed at how great it makes you feel!
4. Link a simple exercise to an activity that is already part of your daily routine. No one has to remind you to brush your teeth, so do push–ups against the bathroom vanity every morning right after brushing your teeth. Before long, it will be second nature rather than one more thing to remember.
Give it a try. You’ve got nothing to lose and plenty of energy to gain.
Cathy Moxley, M.A., C.S.C.S, is an exercise physiologist and fitness–wellness coach who specializes in helping busy people, especially moms, figure out how they can fit exercise into their lives. For more great ideas, visit her at fitness-insight.com. She is also the author of The Busy Mom’s Ultimate Fitness Guide: Get Motivated and Find the Solution that Works for You! (Available at busymomsolutions.com.)
Rate this article:
Post a Tip or Comment
SHARE
Great tips and very inspiring!