5 Favorite Ways to Re-ENERGIZE!

Credit: Nick Finochio Photography

Looking for ways to recharge?

While I love the holidays and the extra time they afford me to spend with family and friends - the extra travelling and stresses associated with them can really take a toll and leave me feeling run-down once they have passed. And, as someone who spends time on both the west and east coast during the winter season, the change in climate and the time differences are also taxing. To combat stress and to stay healthy and energized, I’ve come up with a handful of ways to re-center and recharge myself when my schedule is especially busy or I’m beginning to feel rundown.  
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1 - 10 X 3 Stretching
There are three times a day that I feel stretching or practicing 10-minutes of yoga really help me to feel more energized or relaxed – and it is exactly that dual nature of stretching and yoga that I love! I like to do slow, controlled, and strengthening yoga and relaxing stretches that help me to loosen my muscles and unwind. I find that breaking up my stretching into three 10-minute sessions is more manageable and more beneficial than trying to squeeze in 30 minutes on a busy day. When I do have more time to spare, I like to increase my sessions to 20-minutes each, or to pair my smaller sessions with a larger workout, like skiing, biking or spinning in the winter.
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2 – Staying Fueled
It may sound cliché, but what you eat really can make a difference in how you feel! I find that a hearty, healthy breakfast and several nutritious snacks throughout the day help to keep me going! My favorite energizing breakfast for when I’m on the go is a protein packed smoothie. I always have hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator and like to grab them on my way out for an extra boost of protein and nutrition, though I usually only eat the egg whites. When I’m not on the go, a veggie egg white omelet is my go-to. Some of my favorite daytime snacks include travel size pouches of various nut butters, fresh bananas or melon, healthy trail mixes, and dried fruits.  
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3 - A Change-Up
Sometimes, I find that I need a good change-up in my schedule to get me motivated and energized! Routines are great and really do help to keep me focused and motivated, but sometimes a little change can do wonders for giving new motivation and life to your day-to-day schedule. A change-up does not have to be something grand, it can be something as simple as actually taking a lunch break outside of the office, meeting a friend for a cup of coffee, or working from a different location. By incorporating something new or unexpected into my day, I feel more inspired and alive! Besides, you never know what new connections or friends you might make when you switch things up!  
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4 - Cut Down Caffeine
I know this advice seems counter-intuitive and don’t get me wrong - I love a strong, bold cup of joe! But, overdoing it with the caffeine can actually make you feel even more tired and run down! It is for this reason that you should try to limit yourself to just 1 coffee or latte in the morning. If you’re craving an afternoon beverage, opt for decaf coffee or naturally decaf tea. Sometimes just getting out and getting a hot beverage is all you need to combat an afternoon slump! Another surprising tip that works wonders is drink more water! Dehydration can leave you feeling rundown and tired, so be sure to stay hydrated to keep your energy levels up.  
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5 – Mind Over Matter
Anyone who knows me knows that I genuinely believe in the power of positive thinking! Sometimes we are our own biggest obstacle! So, the next time you feel rundown and unmotivated try repeating a positive mantra to yourself for 2 minutes each day. Meditating, repeating mantras, and practicing positive thinking can feel strange at first, but just start small by pushing all of your negative thoughts away and either try to embrace the complete silence or repeat positive thoughts in your mind for a small amount of time. Gradually, you’ll be able to see the impact changing your mindset will have on your overall wellbeing and happiness, and you’ll be able to increase your meditation time, too. If meditation just isn’t your thing, reading motivational books and quotes is another great way to prevent negativity from weighing you down!
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How do you re-energize? Let me know in the comments section below!