As the days start to draw out and the sun is starting to give off heat, I don’t know about you, but I begin to feel more energised.
Though there are still moments in every day where I find myself feeling sluggish and in need of caffeine to give me a much needed boost. But caffeine is no longer my friend, as with lots of other foods and drinks, I am slowly developing an intolerance to it (which is a whole other story linked to a childhood illness that I will talk about one day!) So I had started to research some other ways in which I could kick that mid-afternoon slump into space.
Of course, I came across the really obvious advice; get enough sleep, try not to stress, stay hydrated, exercise more. But this wasn’t really what I needed. It’s hard to get sleep as a single parent, it’s hard not to stress in a pandemic, and exercise isn’t easy to do when you lack motivation. No, what I needed was boosters that were more akin to a caffeine hit; a quick fix, but a quick healthy fix.
Essential Oils
I’m not a rep, so don’t worry, I’m not going to try to sell you anything. But peppermint essential oil is well-known to provide a quick natural energy boost. Dab a few drops onto your wrists (if your product is safe to use on skin) and inhale gently to help you regain focus and stimulate your brain’s ability to concentrate. I keep a bottle on my desk and find I reach for it most days at about 3pm.
Scalp Massage
Now I’m not talking about those delicious face and scalp massages that we used to be able to treat ourselves to at a spa day in Aqua Sana when the world was ‘normal’ (can you tell I’m really missing those?) This quick, vigorous scalp massage can increase circulation to the brain and improve concentration. Tap or rub your head vigorously from front to back and feel your energy levels come back to life.
Icy Water
Instead of reaching for a coffee pick-me-up try a glass of ice water instead, or as well as because I’m not one to tell you to remove something from your life that you love! Fatigue is often one of the signs of dehydration, so a glass of water will help you to focus and be more energised. The ice, however, wakes up your metabolism to try and warm it up to body temperature and gives you a burst of adrenaline.
Reflexology
Reflexology is the art of applying pressure to certain points on your feet that correspond to part of your body. A quick natural pick-me-up can occur when you apply pressure to the point on your foot that corresponds to your endocrine system, in particular your pituitary reflex point. Find the middle of the underside of your big toe (just the squishy bit, past the knuckle) and apply pressure with the knuckle of your first finger for 15-20 seconds. When I first did this it felt painful, but this is because so much is controlled through your endocrine system, so don’t carry on if it’s too painful to bear. Gently build up to 20 seconds if you feel able.
Under Pressure
The traditional practice of Chinese medicine uses the application of pressure, or acupressure, to points along the meridian lines of the body to heal and revive. One of these pressure points can promote mental alertness and was used as a first aid revival point. Nowadays it can be used as a natural energy boost. Use the tip of your index finger (or knuckle if you have long nails) to apply pressure between your upper lip and nose, about a third of the way down from your nose. Apply pressure for as long as feels comfortable up to a minute.
Fresh Air
Probably the most natural of the lot! Around 90% of our energy comes from oxygen. If you can get outside for five minutes then getting up out of your chair will help too. If not, open a window and breath in the fresh air. When we’re in a state of deep concentration or work stress we often don’t breathe as deeply as we should and our oxygen levels reduce. Taking five minutes to refresh our systems by breathing in the fresh air won’t just increase the oxygenation of our blood, it will help our cells to create much needed energy.
Whilst these quick pick-me-ups are great for occasional energy slumps, if you’re feeling constantly drained or never have any energy then it might be worth getting checked over by your GP for low iron or thyroid problems or depression.