Tip Bit #12: Three easy ways to recharge yourself

One thing I am learning to do as I work is to recognize the point when I begin feeling fatigued and take a quick step to recharge.   If you spend long hours studying or working, watch for the following signs:

• You begin yawning.
• It becomes hard to concentrate.
• You space out for a few seconds.
• You rub your eyes.
• You body feels stiff.

Aren’t you getting tired just after reading these symptoms?  When you start feeling this way, try the following easy steps to break the cycle of fatigue. 

1. Take 10 deep breaths.  We are all guilty of shallow breathing.  When you are hunched over a book or the keyboard, you can’t fully expand the lungs.  Also, when people feel stressed, they tend to take short, rapid breaths.  When you feel tired, take deep, relaxing breaths to bring more oxygen to your body.  Are you feeling better already?
2. Now it is time to stretch.  I like the Yoga Triangle Pose because it gives a good stretch to my whole body and releases the tension from the lower back.  Because it is a standing posture, I don’t even need a mat.  You can find the instructions and tutorial animation at the ABC-of-Yoga website.  As with any stretch, go slow and stop if you feel any pain.  The website describes many other poses, so you can choose the ones that you are comfortable with.  The tiredness starts to melt away.
3. Finally, drink a glass of iced water with lemon.  Thirst causes fatigue.  The cold water wakes me up (and burns a few calories, as a bonus).   The fresh smell of lemon is invigorating.

These little interventions are easy to do and don’t take much time.  If you can’t take a nap or get to the gym, they can be your next best thing and a healthy alternative to reaching for more coffee and a cookie (I am writing this for myself and I should tape this to my coffee-maker).  What do you think?  Do you have any tips for a quick energy boost?  Please share them with the rest of us! 

Comments

[Kate]

Great article, I hope lots of people have taken note, especially on the water, dehydration is one of the main tiredness causes. I was surprised to find out that by the time we're thirsty we're already dehydrated, that's almost scary.

Try eating nuts or seeds BEFORE you get too hungry and then your body won’t even be in distress. Just think how tired your poor little body gets, and how exhausted you feel by the time you shovel down that cream bun. So don’t let it get that far, tiredness causes us to panick and eat everything that is bad for us . Eat little and often, and THE RIGHT FOODS.

Good luck

Kate :)
www.tired-of-fatigue.com