6 Tips To Boost Your Energy

I am loving this gorgeous weather we’re having at the moment. And the fact that it’s light so late. I was walking home from the bus stop last night at about 9.30 and it was still quite light. I just couldn’t believe it. It was glorious.

Although I am 100% built for the winter and I have no real clue how to do this whole summer dressing thing anymore. I still want to make the most of this time before it all nosedives and I turn into hibernation Laura again. The problem is that my mind may be willing to do more but the flesh is most definitely weak.

I am trying a few things to boost my energy though. Including trying to eat better and taking some BioCare supplements*. They seem to be working but there’s always a little bit more to be done, isn’t there? I asked Chris Newbold who is Head of Clinical Nutrition at BioCare for their top tips on boosting energy this season. This is what they said:

1. Avoid caffeine after 2pm

Caffeine is great for increasing alertness, so starting the day with a cup of coffee may help sharpen your mind. However, you should consume this cautiously, and try to avoid it after 2pm, as it can cause problems with winding down in the evening and may cause restlessness before bedtime.

2. Give yourself a breakfast boost

If you find it hard to feel alert in the mornings, breakfast can give you the energy you need to face the day ahead. It’s important to go for healthier options, such as porridge and fruit, an omelette or wholemeal toast. Avoid fatty, deep-fried foods such as fry-ups, as these take a while for your body to digest and will leave you with less energy. Although it may be difficult to resist tucking into the office pastries, try opting for a healthy alternative as their lack of fibre, protein and high sugar content will leave you wanting to snack on more food before lunchtime.

3. Get some shuteye

It may be obvious, but getting enough sleep is vital to feeling energised throughout the day. A bad night’s sleep can have a knock-on effect for the rest of the week, so make sure you’re well rested every night to feel reenergised the next day.

It can take around 24-36 hours for your body to recover from a bad night’s sleep. If you’ve been unlucky enough to have a bad night’s sleep, make sure that you look after yourself the following day; stay hydrated, eat well don’t drink too much caffeine and front-load your day by making sure that you get all the important things you need to do, done first.

4. Add some protein

To fill you up and give you all-day energy, high-quality protein is the answer. There are a variety of different options to choose from such as salmon and eggs for breakfast, followed by tuna or chicken for lunch and dinner. Alternatively, for a vegetarian option, try eggs, nuts, and a range of peas and beans.

5. DON’T ditch the complex carbs

Foods such as brown rice, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, wheat and granary bread fuel the body and mind to help you make it through the day. These complex carbs are turned into glucose (blood sugar) in the body and are used as energy.

6. Ditch the drink before bed

Alcohol can trick you into thinking that you will sleep better as it can often make you feel drowsy and can make it easier to fall asleep. However, this can also affect your energy levels the next day, as you’re more likely to wake up and feel groggy. Drinking alcohol can dehydrate the body, so reach for a glass of water between alcoholic drinks to ease the hangover symptoms the next day.

All pretty easy to put into practice, right? I’m going to do my best to include these in my daily life. Now… pass me the carbs!