Energize Yourself!

I don’t know about you, but this past week has just been killer for me. I’m currently working two jobs and juggling a full time course load and I feel as if I’m constantly tired. Is it true that professors have meetings and decide to assign all homework and projects in the same week? At this point I’m basically ticking off every day until my graduation in May (2 months left! Ahhh).

When I first started this blog, I had thought that I would be able to write throughout the week with ease. I was excited at the possibilities and ways in which I could use this outlet as a means of making myself write consistently. Of course, life is getting in the way (as it always does), and I find myself writing my blog posts every weekend in order to fulfill the weekly requirements. While I’m slightly disappointed in myself, my weekdays are so jammed packed that I truly have no time until the blissful freedom of the weekends. So here I am again, on a Sunday evening, making my blog a little fuller.

Anyway, what I wanted to talk about and share with you was a way to help during your long and heavily scheduled days. I will admit now that I am an avid coffee drinker, and have been since I was a young teenager. While there is debate on whether coffee is good or bad for you (I believe it is good in moderation), I have found from experience that coffee is indeed addicting. There were periods in my life where I would get bad headaches due to a lack of caffeine, and it was then that I knew that my love for coffee was turning against me. I would drink it because I loved the taste and the slight energy  boost, but suddenly without it I was a sloth and with it I was only a normally-functionining human with no increased energy.

So now, I try and drink no more than a cup (or two, who are we kidding?) of coffee a day, and when I still need boosts of energy I resort to other sources. Thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, I was able to scroll through articles and reviews and find things that work for me. Because I tend to lean more on the healthy side, I shy away from energy supplements like red bull. Instead, this is what I do:

WATER

Everyone should drink water with this fierceness. 

Yes, I’m aware that literally the whole world is preaching the many benefits of water. But seriously, if you’re feeling slugish, down an 8 ounce bottle of water and soon will feel a kick. Don’t forget that our body is 50-60% water and that drinking enough is essential to avoiding fatigue and headaches. My boyfriend’s new “trick” when he’s feeling particularly groggy when he wakes up is to drink a whole glass of water. It gets him get out of bed so that he can make me breakfast (What? Who’s dropping hints?).

ALMONDS

Be like this squirrel and eat almonds.

Besides being delicious, almonds stabilize blood sugar and slow digestion, which help regulate energy. Almonds are also a good way to curve your hunger. Keep a plastic bag filled with them in your purse or backpack for an on-the-go energy boost.

BANANAS

These bananas are so happy to see you.

I buy a bunch of bananas every weekend and everyday grab one to throw in my bag. It’s easy to eat, there’s no mess, and it helps keep me more alert. This is because bananas help slow down digestion, as well as help keep blood sugar levels stable.

These are the top three things that I do, that I find to be the most helpful and easy to do. When searching on the internet, there are so many different things that people recommend. For instance one website (not giving any names), recommended that, in order help one’s energy, you should “plant a garden.” Yes, because that’s such a realistic option! Let’s all stop what we’re doing halfway through the day and revitalize ourselves with gardening.

Stay alert, friends!