Happy spring! My favorite season is finally here. It’s a time for renewal, inspiration, and new beginnings.
One thing I’ve been working on lately that ties all three of those things together is boosting my energy – both physical and mental. I’ve found over the past couple of years that I need to focus much more deliberately on doing the things that boost my energy in order to actually keep the energy levels I desire in my life (and I’m not always perfect at it!). Basically, keeping my energy levels up requires much more effort these days. Can you relate?
There are so many things that can drain us – from lack of sleep to our diet to social media – but making just a few small lifestyle changes can make a massive difference in your days, and in your overall quality of life.
So, I thought I’d share four easy habits I’m practicing that have helped quite a bit. You can apply these to your life (or your own version of any of these) and see great results if you stay dedicated. And, over time, these will become simple habits that you don’t have to think much about.
1. I’ve cut back drastically on news and social media scrolling. This sounds simple, but it takes discipline at first (these things can be addicting). Endless scrolling is a real time sucker, and it’s also seriously draining! And, scrolling news headlines is enough to put anyone in a negative space. I do want to stay informed, so I still do these things, but only in very small doses. Cutting back has had a positive effect on my energy levels, as well as freed up more time in my day. A win-win!
2. I’ve committed myself to spending at least 5 minutes each morning to stretching and moving my body. I try to get in a few yoga stretches, a couple of 30-second planks, and 50 jumping jacks. Sometimes I squeeze in a quick 10-minute run (which has a fresh air bonus). This gets my blood flowing, helps me sleep better at night, and skyrockets my energy better than any cup of strong coffee could (although I still love my one cup in the morning!). Plus, studies have shown that jumping as few as 20 times per day can have a positive affect on bone health. (See one study here). Moving your body is a must, and it doesn’t have to be super time consuming.
3. You’ve heard this a million times, but that’s because it works! I drink several green drinks per week, as well as stay committed to a few key supplements that work very well for me to keep my energy up. Now, this falls into the category of those things we all know we should be doing, but not everyone does consistently (I admit, I wasn’t great about being super consistent about it until about a year ago). Consistency is key when it comes to nutrition. I even buy some of my organic cold-pressed green drinks right at the grocery store (just make sure you find the ones that have fewer than 11 grams of sugar). You will absolutely notice a big difference.
4. I generally follow a basic 80/20 diet for health (80% very healthy and plant based with 20% room to have a little fun). This works guys – and it’s easy and so doable. I pay attention to sugar and salt content in foods, drink plenty of water, and have learned to cook so many healthy dishes that taste amazingly decadent (like grilled fish tacos packed with veggies, and lately, I’ve been kind of addicted to zucchini noodles with garlic marinara sauce).
I’m a big fan of small changes that have significant impact, and these areas above are a great place to start! I cover many more small changes that create huge results in my book Operation Happiness. Be sure to check it out if you really want to dive into another level of expanding good things in your life this spring.
I’d love it if you’d join the conversation and share some small changes you’ve made that have had big impact in the comments below.
Here’s to a healthy, happy, energetic season!
Love,
Kristi
