If you're new to fasting, you may feel that eating is one of the best ways to give yourself an energy boost. However, eating often makes people feel a lack of energy because your body releases an influx of insulin after you eat, which aids in digestion by helping your body utilize the glucose and amino acids that it received from the food you ate.
No wonder you feel in need of a boost of energy. Your body thinks it's time to nap. However, if you're fasting but still have trouble keeping your energy level high, try employing any combination of these methods. Mix and match, play around, and see which ones work best.
Stand up and start moving.
When you lack energy while fasting, you can often blame it not on the absence of food, but on the absence of movement. In general, people are quite sedentary, sitting in front a computer screen, behind a steering wheel, or on the couch. To start feeling energized, take a walk, do a mini workout, stretch.
Become a social butterfly.
If your energy is waning, walk to the nearest office water cooler and chat. Socializing can take your mind off the tiring effect that mental and physical stress has on the body. It’s a form of mental exercise that is minimally stressful, boosts brainpower, and staves off fatigue (as long as you aren’t socializing with a person who causes you stress in the first place).
Drink plenty of water.
Water can help you keep your energy level high. For one, dehydration is a sneaky cause of fatigue, and no matter if you’re experiencing even a mild case of dehydration, it affects levels of concentration and cognition.
If you aren’t adequately keeping your body’s water level high enough and you enter even a mild state of dehydration, then your body struggles to perform its usual functions, such as sweating, transporting nutrients, and keeping you feeling good.
Use caffeine wisely.
Caffeine can provide just the boost you need to get your day started (or going). Studies have shown that consuming caffeine has a positive effect on physical exertion and mental activity. Whether you’re hitting the gym to get in the day’s workout or trying to concentrate on a demanding project at work, drinking a cup of coffee or two can help with your performance.
Drinking too much caffeine can be counterproductive, especially if it interferes with your nightly sleeping routine. Keep caffeine consumption to earlier in the day and don’t drink more than two cups of coffee (or other healthy caffeinated beverage, such as green or black tea) per day.
Breathe in some aromatherapy.
Smell is the strongest of senses. By utilizing this sense, you can positively affect productivity, brain activity, and energy levels. Here is a list of scents that can give you a positive energy boost when you need it most: lavender, citrus, rosemary, and peppermint.
Breathing in a few inhalations of these scents, whether you’re sniffing some from a few drops on a cotton ball or adding a small amount to a diffuser or mister, can activate your hypothalamus and invigorate your entire body and mind. Try it first thing in the morning or whenever you need a burst of energy anytime throughout the day.
Play a game.
Playing a game can minimize stress and provide a boost of energy. While you’re playing a game, your mind doesn’t shut down. It stays active but at pleasant and nonstressful levels, which results in stimulating the brain without either overloading it, like when you’re doing challenging mental work, or turning it off, such as when you’re watching television.
To make the most effective use of this method, set a time limit on the game you decide to play. For instance, you may only play three rounds or ten minutes before returning to whatever you were doing prior to your break. You’ll find that your energy levels have been given a healthy boost and you’re ready to keep on tackling the day.
If you're feeling a lag in energy on a fast day, slip on a pair of headphones and listen to music.
Try out different kinds of music, too. You may find that while classical music gives you an energy boost, listening to pop music may be a little too distracting for whatever work you’re trying to do.
Have more sex more often.
Humans are programmed to enjoy sex and to reap some wonderful health benefits from this intimate act, including an increase in endorphin production. Endorphins, which are a brain chemical, create a sense of well-being and can provide a much-needed boost of energy.
Laugh more and smile.
The average child laughs more than 300 times a day. The average adult? Only five times. The act of laughing can make your general outlook on life better. This improvement in perspective stimulates energy, so take the time to identify what gets you giggling. After you know what works best, give laughter a try whenever you need a burst of energy. Furthermore, studies have shown that laughter improves mood, boosts endorphins, and improves immunity.
Get a better night's sleep.
Sleeping better the night before to improve your energy levels may seem obvious, but many people sabotage their chances of getting a good night’s sleep.
In order to sleep soundly — and stave off fatigue the next day — establish a bedtime routine, avoid caffeine late in the day, don’t drink alcohol late in the day or use it as a sleep aid, turn off electronic gadgets, use blackout curtains, and ensure your bedroom is a cool and comfortable temperature.