“Are you always on?”
Friends will often ask me if I’m always “on.” I think that I am. I generally feel pretty motivated and excited (especially amped up on pizza days!). I haven’t always been filled with energy though. It took me years of testing out every supplement and strategy in the world to get to the point where I’m feeling energetic.
Keep on reading if you want to have more energy…
Are you fed up with always feWhy not do your best to have more energy all day long?
“People say that what we are seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think this is what we’re really seeking. I think what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive.” — Joseph Campbell
I’m pretty annoying and proud of it. I would rather be annoyingly positive than even slightly miserable. I’m always full of life. Every party ends with me being the last one to go to bed because I got so many stories to tell. I want you to get to this level. I know that you’re annoyed with always being low on energy.
How do you get boosts of energy that make you feel unstoppable?
[If you want to feel more alive, you need to check out our guide to boosting your testosterone.]
Sleep well and get your rest whenever you can.
We don’t get enough sleep and we wear this like a badge of honor. There’s nothing to be proud of if you’re sleep deprived. You’re going to feel tired and lazy the entire day. This is no way to live life.
[You need to get some damn sleep.]
There’s no avoiding sleep if you want to have energy. You have to sleep, and this is coming from someone with some form of insomnia. There’s no way around it though. A solid rest will do you wonders the next day. I spent my whole college career working full-time while I studied, so I had to rely on coffee. I rarely ever got a good sleep in. It sucked.
I used to laugh at people who sleep a lot. Now I do my best to get lots of sleep. I suggest the same to you.
There’s no benefit to limiting your rest and then trying to brag about it. You need to get your sleep so that you’re refreshed.
How can you try to get more sleep?
- Cut out the social media before bed.
- Exercise hard as often as you can so that you go to bed tired.
- Try melatonin.
- Stop stressing over everything before bed.
- Set an alarm so that you know it’s bed time. Stop scrolling and arguing with strangers on social media. Make sleep a priority.
You already knew most of this stuff. I just had to remind you on the importance of sleep.
Coffee.
I don’t like to waste time so I start every morning with a cup of coffee to get the engine running.
Is coffee bad for you? Not at all.
Time to reference my favorite study on caffeine.
“Caffeine is a mild, legal and harmless stimulant that has been shown in dozens of scientific studies to improve sports performance. This is not only because a dose of caffeine gives athletes extra energy, which makes their training easier, but also because caffeine makes muscle contraction easier.”
Plus, drinking that cup of coffee in the morning beats feeling useless and lazy the rest of the day. Of course, you should watch how much you consume. You don’t want to get the jitters.
With the obvious tips out of the way as friendly reminders, let’s dig a little deeper on finding more energy…
Train on an empty stomach. Skip breakfast. Do intermittent fasting.
[Read all about intermittent fasting.]
When you’re full, it’s more likely that you’re going to take a nap. It’s easier to get stuff done when you’re hungry.
I start my days off ready to go. I grab a cup of coffee and start writing. I then lift on an empty stomach.
I eat in the afternoon. This really helps with my energy levels. I’m not all stuffed from breakfast. I avoid breakfast at all costs.
I’ve even done competitions like Tough Mudder fasted. I love starting my day off with an empty stomach. You will too once you get the hang of it. I’m at one meal per day now.
Watch how often you drink alcohol/eat crapy food.
[Check out our ultimate guide to getting wasted.]
I’m all about getting wasted and going wild. Life’s too short to not have fun with your friends when the occasion calls for it.
Just please try to watch how often you drink and when you drink if you want to have lots of energy.
I don’t need to tell you that you have no energy after a hang over or that drinking beer makes you feel lazy. You have already experienced that.
I just want you to pay attention to how you feel after pigging out or drinking too much. It doesn’t feel good. Your energy levels drop rapidly when you don’t take care of yourself.
Carefully use the right supplements.
I don’t want to say too much here because you should obviously consult a medical professional.
I’ll just say that certain supplements really help me with my energy levels.
- B12 pin the morning.
- Vitamin D in the morning.
- Fish oil with my meal.
These could be a bit pricey. So don’t feel like you have to buy any of them. Try one. A little vitamin D always helps in the winter.
What should you avoid doing if you want more energy?
At all costs, avoid energy drinks.
Seriously, run away from energy drinks. Avoid these at all costs. I don’t care if they’re sugar-free or low calorie. Don’t get caught up in energy drinks.
In 2006, I was all about chugging energy drinks before class. I would feel good for a few minutes and then I would crash so hard in class. This would then lead to me drinking even more energy drinks. It’s a vicious cycle that you don’t want to get caught up in.
I chugged a Red Bull for the sake of this article and I regretted it the second that I finished it. These are full of sugar. You may get a quick boost, but the crash is definitely not worth it.
Stop trying to be unrealistically strict.
It’s easy to run low on energy when you try to follow some unrealistic diet that cuts out all carbs and anything fun. You’re still a functioning human being in need of food. It’s okay to eat some carbs and to indulge a little bit.
What should you do right now if you want to have more energy during the day?
Try something from this article today.
Do something that increases your energy. Become more energized. Get more done. Stop loitering on this planet.
It takes time to get your energy levels up.
That’s all I can really say. I’m not sure what works best for me right now because I do so many different things. You won’t feel all energized and on top of the world right away. It’s important to you try to get more sleep, consider fasting, and eat better. You may not feel more energetic on the first day, but you’ll eventually get there.
Give it some time!
Power naps.
I hope I’m not introducing a new concept here. 20 minutes power naps are key in the middle of a stressful day. Pass out on the couch, your desk, or in the lunchroom. Set your alarm. Don’t oversleep. We don’t want you waking up groggy.
Put your new found energy to good use. Get something done. Train more. Cook more. Go out more often.