Harper College will be closed on Wednesday, February 12 in observance of Lincoln's Day.
There’s no shortage of ways to get worn down throughout a day. But when you have to
get things done, keeping your mind and body fresh will make being productive a whole
lot easier. Here are five things Harper Wellness Manager Beth McPartlin recommends for keeping your energy up no matter what your day looks like.
Instead of waiting until you're super hungry, keep small snacks at work or throughout
your home that are nutrient-heavy, like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. They should
be easy for when you’re on the go, which will help you stay focused and not get to
the point where you’re famished. When that happens, we tend to overeat at lunch and
get lethargic, making it hard to return to work and stay on task. That doesn't mean
you can’t eat the Cheetos or candy—definitely everything in moderation. But the nutrients
are going to help you stay a little bit more energized throughout the day rather than
having a sugar crash.
There are so many different life factors that affect how much sleep you can get. For
example, if you have a new baby at home, getting eight hours of solid sleep as recommended
probably isn’t feasible. Or maybe you’re working a night job or have health conditions.
For those days when you don’t get the recommended amount of sleep, if you have a workspace
that is suitable to closing your door, take the opportunity to take a power nap for
15 minutes or so. That can help give you a boost of energy—without sleeping too deeply
where you're waking up groggy—and get you refreshed and energized to focus on the
things that need to get done.
It’s easy to get stuck on a task you need to complete, but then you tend to sit in
the same spot for hours on end. And here’s the reality: our bodies are not designed
to just sit. And even though we may feel like we’re focusing on a task, we tend to
lose focus after about 45 minutes. So even taking a small 15-minute break, getting
up out of your seat wherever that may be, and walking around or even fitting in a
small workout can help restore your energy and concentration. Find a movement that
you enjoy, even if it’s just around the living room. You don’t have to go to the gym
or do an intense workout for it to be beneficial. Research shows that walking can
boost your mood and energy levels.
Getting sunlight and going outdoors can help boost your mood, especially during the
winter months. Seasonal Affective Disorder is real because a lot of times we're going
into work when it’s cold and dark out, so a lot of us are not getting enough sunlight.
And if you're working in a place that doesn’t have large windows or exposure to a
lot of light, that can really affect your mood and therefore your energy levels. So
just getting outside for a couple of minutes, or even being by a window and taking
in some sunlight, can really help.
It’s easy to drink the caffeinated drinks throughout the day and then by the end of
the day you realize, “Wow, I haven't really drank a lot of water.” So if you are drinking
caffeine, try to limit the caffeine towards the beginning of the day and be mindful
of how much caffeine you’re drinking. And if you find your water is tasting plain,
you can always add in some flavors like cucumber or strawberries or lemon. There are
many products out there that say they can boost hydration, but all in all water is
usually the best route to go to keep your mood elevated and energy levels up throughout
the day. I always recommend getting a smaller water bottle because it sort of forces
you to get up and move to the kitchen or the water fountain to refill it.
Originally Published Apr 16, 2024
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