5 Things You Can Do To Feel Better Right Now (Without Coffee)!

What’s up guys! I was inspired this week to write this post because I have days where I don’t feel my best or I didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before.  I recently had one of those days, (I mean I have more of those days then I care to admit).  I started to go down the list of things I could do to help myself feel better, other than drink a cup of coffee.  If I am being honest coffee doesn’t always work for me, it typically works best if I was able to get a decent nights sleep.  When I am not getting enough rest coffee is more like a band-aid to a much bigger issue.  I get that burst of energy after I drink a cup and then CRASH like an hour or two later.  That is just not enough for me, I need something that has sustainability over the course of the day.  I came up with a list of things that I find work in helping boost my energy levels and help me get through those more difficult days.  I absolutely have to share them with you guys.

1. Hot Shower/Bath

It is amazing how this works for me… If I take a shower before bed that helps me wind down and go to sleep.  When I take a shower in the morning or afternoon it helps me wake up and feel refreshed for the day.  A hot bath typically makes me sleepy so I only take those before bed.  Either way these both have a relaxing calming affect and are great to give you a boost for the day.

2.  Take a Nap

Naps are like my best friend right now! I don’t know what I would do without one during the day.  Now I am not a long nap taker, but I try to take a least a 20 min cat nap somewhere in the day.  Ironically, studies that I’ve read about naps say you shouldn’t take longer than 20-30 min for what they call a ‘power nap’.  It has a lot to do with sleep cycles and R.E.M;  A normal human sleep cycle is an hour and thirty minutes.  When you sleep longer than that you are going into nighttime sleeping patterns which cause you to feel tired and groggy.  I know most people would say that they are too busy to take a nap or that they don’t have time.  Look, I get it time is nobody’s friend but I would say if you can spare 20 minutes of your day try to catch just a few of those z’s.  You’ll feel more alert and crisp which will in turn help you feel better.

3.  Stretch

I was a cheerleader in middle school and stretching was a huge deal for us.  It’s important for an athlete, but what most people don’t know is that stretching is amazing for anyone.  It’s crazy, you don’t realize how tense you are until you start stretching your muscles.  Stretching relaxes your body so much and loosens you up in places that you didn’t even know were there.  If you stand up or walk around a lot (perhaps because of your job) this is a perfect activity to do.  Take about 10 minutes and stretch out your body.  You can stretch standing up or sitting down.  Most of us took gym in school and we did the basic stretches, you can do the exact same movements.  You will be amazed at how good you feel when you are done.  I stretch whenever I feel stressed or tense, I also stretch sometimes before I go to sleep.  Your body will thank you!

4.  Sit in Silence/In Darkness

My children are so amazing and some days they can be so loud the noise is just overwhelming.  My oldest asking me questions, my daughter singing in the highest pitch she can possibly reach and my little baby crying all at the same time is enough to make your head feel like it’s going to explode.  I mean sometimes I can’t hear my own thoughts, it can really be a lot.  My remedy for this is finding a dark quiet spot (usually in my room or closet) and just sitting in silence.  I know it sounds simple but it really works.  It doesn’t have to be for a long time, sometimes I can only spare a few minutes.  I sit until I can clear my head and gather my thoughts.  It just is great to help me regroup and refocus. I mean when you are desperate for a little bit of peace and quiet it is like a small bit of heaven.  I highly recommend you give it a try!

5.  Go For a Walk

There’s something about being outside in nature that really shifts your perspective on everything in your life.  It makes your problems not seem as big and makes you have a sense of gratefulness for what you have.  Not only that but the walking is great exercise and will give you wonderful energy.  Walking also clears your head and helps to relieve stress.

It would be great if everyday you woke up from eight hours of sleep and felt refreshed and energized.  I wish I felt like wonder woman and ready to take on anything but that’s not always the case.  Somedays you just can’t seem to get it together and if you’re like me you have to keep going because you have people and things depending on you.  Whenever I do any of these activities I am always refreshed and re-energized so I can keep going.  Now nothing can replace living a healthy lifestyle; eating right, exercising, and getting plenty of rest is always best.  But don’t underestimate the glorious affect that these activities will have on you.  I do all of them and believe me they really work! Just give them a try! 🙂

*** Need a good workout but don’t have a lot of time, check out this post for some great ideas!