Boost your energy

Feeling a little sluggish these days? It could be due to a whole host of issues; from workplace stressors to a lack of sleep, feeling like you're carrying a 50-pound weight on your shoulders all day can really slow you down. To help pick you up a bit, try these five, easy ways to boost your energy.

1. Drink More Water. Dehydration is one of the most common energy zappers you can encounter. Start your day with a nice, tall glass of water and then sip regularly on a glass or bottle throughout the day.

2. Don't Overindulge. As you may or may not know, research shows that it takes somewhere around 20 minutes for your stomach to send the "I'm full!!" signal to your brain. Consequently, we oftentimes keep eating well past the point where we should have cut ourselves off. Limiting your portion sizes will help prevent this mind/stomach disconnect to affect your diet.

3. Breathe Deeply. When you wake up in the morning, take even a few seconds to inhale and exhale several deep, oxygen-rich breaths. If possible, take a few minutes and perform structured breathing techniques at various times of the day.

4. Stress Less. Step back and make a brutally honest assessment of your life and try to identify some stressors that you can afford to let go. Eliminate all expendable items, deadlines, and projects that are causing you undue grief or tension.

5. Adjust Your Diet. Energy-robbing simple sugars are most commonly the culprit in the American diet. Excessive amounts of bad fats are also to blame. Processed foods are typically higher in simple sugars and bad sources of fat, as well as harmful preservatives. Do your best to nosh on foods containing low-GI carbs and good sources of fat, as well as an ample supply of protein.

For some additional tips on how to boost your energy, click here to read an article on About.com