Written by Menswear Style in Health & Fitness on the 22nd February 2021

You already know this - and while that's hardly exceptional or unhealthy - relying merely on a caffeine punch to get you going through the day can actually lead to a lower rate of its return with each following doze, requiring you to drink more to feel awake and fidgety. This only leads to feeling down in energy overall by the end of the day, not to mention that people who have high blood pressure or get easily addicted, are advised to not drink coffee or energy drinks at all. But are there other sources, magic for some, that can keep our energy levels relatively high during the day? These small but significant solutions are steady and ready to give you more pep in your step in no time, while improving your general contentment.

Superplants and Superfoods 

Food is the most important energy producer, but it is also important to intake the right amount of the right ones. These ingredients are all-time energy superstars. One of the first things you can do is add more herbs full of antioxidants to your diet, like spinach, ginseng, and broccoli. If you are not fond of the green stuff, you can always make a smoothie where adding blueberries and almond milk soothes the taste of the greens. It's not possible to speak about boosting energy and not mention tea. Tea can lift your vitality and has a similar effects to caffeine. Drinking Guyausa Tea is a much better choice (besides the fact it’s not even a tea) since these leaves have unique nutritional properties compared to other leaves that are consumed or brewed as teas. Coming from the Amazonian rainforest, this sacred, mysterious, “super leaf” is truly full of energising effects, without bad caffeine side-effects. The nuts and seeds can also play an important part in energy leveling. For example, cacao helps you stay alert and awake without the unavoidable caffeine crash, while chia seeds are packed with nutrients, which is why they're called “little miracles.”

Let’s not forget vitamins and minerals which play an important role in energy. They mostly find their way to our bodies through food, but don’t forget vitamin drinks and supplements are the best in covering the deficiency of certain vitamins, especially magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins. Also, Vitamin D, iron, B12, and iodine are all part of the pack. Another attractive option for increasing energy levels is aromatherapy, and the enforcement and enjoyment on our smelling glands and limbic system that rosemary and peppermint have, is sometimes all we need. These plants are known to boost cognitive performance and help us to focus. 

Early Bird Catches… a Nap? 

Finding energy at the start of the day can sometimes be a struggle. For few people, chosen by the gods, morning doesn’t necessarily mean reaching for a cup of coffee straight outta bed. But for many of us, breaking the habit is a hard process and we simply need to make a routine and stick to it. 

- To all the sleepy heads out there - do not snooze the alarm! Your brain will enter another sleep cycle and when a snoozed alarm breaks it you will just end feeling sluggish all day. 

- Behind your lack of energy upon waking up is, believe it or not, dehydration. A glass of water next to your bed or before breakfast does miracles in fighting morning fatigue. 

- Breakfast, yes. And not just any, opt for whole grains, nuts, and low-sugar fruits. Our brain thrives on steady blood glucose levels and our bodies need fuel to function. So starting the day with proteins and fibers is the best idea if your goal is to gain more energy. 

- A completely different idea. A cold shower or a splash of cold water to your face will help you fully wake up. Consider progressively cooling down the water by the end of the shower to become accustomed to this practice. 

- Not everyone can exercise in the morning, but what is important, is to have some kind of physical activity - go for a walk, go outside and draw a deep breath, spend time in nature and the sun. Spending time in fresh air benefits can bring a lot of benefits. 

- Lastly, if you can afford yourself an afternoon nap - go for it! Twenty to thirty minutes are enough but make sure to avoid napping later in the day as it may change your sleep cycle, and don’t rely on naps to make up for a bad night’s sleep.

Extra, Extra… Read All About It 

Although what we consume and do in the morning can affect how we generally feel, there are more actions that we can resort to when energy levels drop during the day: 

- Listen to upbeat and positive music - rarely something lifts the spirits and mood instantly as the right song and rhythm. 

- Decrease the room temperature - science says that when you are slightly cooler, instead of comfortably heated, your body will burn more calories to keep itself warm, and therefore pump more blood. 

- Jump and do some quick and boosting exercises. 

- Eat smaller and more frequent meals - this is, after all, the best for your metabolism, and you will also spare yourself from overeating heavy meals. 

- Stay hydrated - the importance of drinking enough water cannot be stressed enough. 

- Consider speaking with your doctor if you've tried everything and saw no improvement. 

Since we’re all made of habits and patterns, once you adapt to your new routine, you will start to notice some changes in your energy levels. Keep in mind that having a healthy sleepy time is crucial, and you should always strive to have a balance between giving yourself enough rest and energising with the right nutrients and supplements.

We discuss Superplants and Superfoods in this blog post on Keeping Energy High Without Coffee or Energy Drinks.