5 Natural Energy Boosters in 60 Seconds or Less
Exercising regularly and noshing on nutrient-dense foods are two smart ways to increase your energy. But let's face it: Sometimes you need a fix that's going to supply an instant kick in the butt. These five solutions are fast and won't leave you with that nasty Red Bull buzz.
Fire up your iPod
Blasting Jay-Z may snap you out of your stupor, but not just because you dig his furious beats. Music stimulates almost every region of the brain, says Daniel Levitin, Ph.D., author of This Is Your Brain on Music. When you perform the same tasks each day "it's easy to get lulled into sleepiness," he says, but background tunes combat the monotony, enhancing concentration and focus. For a stronger jolt, play a feel-good favorite for three minutes. Anything from Britney to Bach will work, as long as it's upbeat.
Our Favorite Playlists of Great Music to Move To
Watch that ridiculous YouTube clip
Laughter doesn't actually release endorphins, says psychologist Steven Sultanoff, Ph.D., an expert on therapeutic humor. It does, however, increase your heart rate and activate your muscular system, making you feel instantly revived. Most important, a hearty belly laugh provides what Sultanoff calls a cognitive shift. "Energy levels are directly related to the way people think," he says. "And humor changes thought patterns in ways that are very uplifting."
Brain-Boosting Benefits of Laughter
Break your hoarding habits
A messy desk or kitchen counter can be a serious drain. "The reminder of everything we haven't gotten to yet really drags us down," says Emily Wilska, founder of The Organized Life, a professional organizing company in San Francisco. If you don't have time for an overhaul, simply filing loose papers into folders can clear your mind. Wilska recommends using a tray for critical items, so you can remove them from sight without worrying they'll be forgotten.
8 Things You're Not Doing to Stay Organized
Take a meditation moment
It may seem counterintuitive, but silence can really revive you. Your brain and body are constantly responding to stimuli, which is exhausting, says Deb Shapiro, coauthor of Be the Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World. But it takes only 60 seconds of quiet time to replace all that dissipated energy. "Sit quietly,"Shapiro advises. Breathe deeply for five breaths, concentrating on inhaling and exhaling slowly.
4 Mini-Meditations to Boost Your Bliss
Grab some peppermint
Aromatherapists have long relied on peppermint oil as a natural stimulant. Now scientists are on board: Researchers at West Virginia's Wheeling Jesuit University found that sniffing peppermint immediately improves both athletes' running speed and office workers' typing speed. Its scent acts as a mood enhancer that boosts your motivation and concentration. So grab an infusion, whether it's breath mints, lip gloss, or hand lotion.
TELL US: What do you do for an energy surge?
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