How many times have you heard someone say they wish they had more energy? How many times have you wished for more energy yourself? Perhaps you are feeling rundown and tired, or perhaps you simply want to accomplish more tasks during the day.

While energy itself is hard to define, everyone can identify having a lack of it. Feeling tired and sluggish, accomplishing less than we would like to in a day, and not being able to keep up with the rapid pace of life all signal that our energy levels are running on empty. Here are some tips on how to increase your energy reserves and achieve more in your life:

• Get Enough Sleep
  It may seem obvious, but most people who complain of tiredness are not meeting their individual need for sleep. Most people require between seven and ten hours a night. If you are feeling tired all the time, try going to bed earlier. For the record, you can’t “make up” for lost sleep at the weekend. Since your body follows the rhythm of night and day, you need an appropriate amount of sleep each 24-hour period.
• Stay Active
  While you may feel like crawling back to bed, exercise is the best remedy for daytime sluggishness. The word “recreation” stems from the re-creation of energy. A brisk walk in the fresh air will work wonders for the sagging body and spirit!
• Eat for Energy
  The foods you eat (and the beverages you drink) have a major impact on your energy levels. A high carbohydrate meal may make you feel energetic for a while, but you will quickly fall into an energy slump as soon as your blood sugar level falls again. This is why so many people feel like dropping off to sleep after a pasta lunch. Low fat protein choices such as chicken or fish, a small serving of carbohydrates (rice, pasta, wholegrain bread), and a salad or veggies will help keep your energy levels up. Finish off with fruit if you desire a dessert. Never skip a meal, whatever your workload.
• Keep the Right Company
  Have you ever noticed how some people seem to drain you of energy and others make you feel upbeat and enthusiastic? Choose your company wisely. While short-term assignments with energy-sapping people are often necessary, to actively seek out their company is not a good idea.
• Plan Your Day
  Having a “to do” list and being able to accomplish most of the items on it, will help you feel you have achieved what you set out to do. (Remember to include time for lunch and exercise.) Make sure your list does not include too many tasks.
• Don't Get Burned Out
  Prolonged stress and burn-out often give rise to severe fatigue. If your job (inside or outside of the home), is literally wearing you out, schedule a break and allow yourself to wind down. Enlist the help of friends and family, if necessary. 
• Cleanse Your System
  Many people who have used an inner cleansing program find that they feel energized and “renewed” afterwards. You may want to invest in such a program to give yourself an energy boost for the coming year!

When to Call the Doctor
Everyone feels tired once in a while. If you have had the flu or a similarly debilitating illness, you may feel tired for a week or so afterwards. Ongoing fatigue, however, can be a sign of other conditions. You should contact your doctor if you have been feeling tired for two weeks or more, if you have unexplained muscle weakness or if you experience sudden weight loss.

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