Feeling Drained? These 5 Tips Will Help You be More Energetic

Good people miss out on amazing things because they lack energy. Are you one of them? By the time we’ve battled through our day, most of us want to flop onto a sofa in the evening; we don’t have the energy to exercise, play with kids or meet friends. 

It’s time to get out of your slump and focus on finding more energy. Imagine all the things you could do with more energy. Often, energy and enthusiasm are linked; the two go together like birds and trees. 

This article will outline how you can be more energetic and the associated benefits. It will outline 5 specific tips to help you be more energetic. 

What does it mean to be energetic? 

Many of us have people in our lives who we look upon with awe. How do they have so much energy? Watching them go about their lives makes us tired, yet they never seem to fade. 

Being energetic means being active both physically and mentally. It involves living with vitality and exuberance. 

Energetic people often have a wide variety of passions and hobbies. They flit between their interests like a honey bee flying between flowers. Interestingly, the more they do, the more energy they have. 

We think of energy as the actual physical energy the body available within the body, derived from our food. But energy is also a mood. 

There are strong links between our energy levels and our mental health. 

A somewhat grossly oversimplified example of energy and mental health lies in an interconnected relationship between depression and fatigue which contrasts with the sensation of anxiety sufferers who sometimes feel they have excess energy. 

The benefits of being energetic 

It’s not just about being able to run a marathon or lift heavy weights. Energetic people are at many advantages in life. 

I don’t mean to brag, but I am what you would consider an energetic person. I was a hyperactive child and developed into an energetic adult. But please bear in mind my energy levels stem from anxiety.

Having excessive energy levels has enabled me to live a fulfilling life. For instance, I can: 

• Get up early in the morning and exercise. 
• Run long distances. 
• Set up side hustles. 
• Work long hours. 
• Invest time in friendships. 
• Embrace my hobbies and interests and readily take on new pastimes. 
• Accomplish more in a day than some people do in a week. 

That said, my energy levels are not quite what they used to be, which could be due to the mental hangover post-pandemic. 

Energetic people can optimize their lives, which is the most significant benefit. 

5 ways to be more energetic  

Even the more energetic of us sometimes have dips in our energy levels. If you seek to increase your energy levels to new levels or restore them to where they once were, these 5 tips should point you in the right direction. 

Please note there is a difference between having low energy, which you can rectify yourself, and suffering from chronic fatigue. If you suffer from the latter, please consult a medical expert. 

1. Eat your way to vigor

It’s a bit of a vicious cycle, as the less energy you have, the less inclined you are to cook from scratch. But heavily processed food is junk, it can drain our energy levels, and doesn’t meet our nutritional needs. 

Ideally, you want to include plenty of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes in your diet. 

The real culprit is sugar. Refined sugar is from a plant source and is added to foods to make them taste good. The average American consumes 24 tablespoons of sugar daily, while the World Health Organisation recommends a maximum of 10 tablespoons of sugar per day. 

We may crave sugary snacks when our energy levels are low, but all they do is give us a moment’s energy spike, then put us in a slump. 

Here are a few simple tips for increasing your energy through your food. 

• Don’t ever skip breakfast, and make sure it’s healthy. 
• Snack on fruit and nuts instead of chocolate and sweets. 
• Cut out fizzy drinks. 
• Consume your calories from adequate macros. Your calorie intake should consist of protein (35%), carbohydrates (45%), and fat (20%). 
• Stay hydrated. 
• Consider taking additional vitamins or minerals if your diet is lacking. For example, vegans need to take a B12 supplement. 

2. Sleep to restore  

Sleep is the primary way your body repairs and recovers. While we each report needing different amounts of sleep, we all need sleep. 

Sleep deprivation is an easy way to reduce your energy levels. It is also associated with a higher risk of injury to adults and children. 

Alongside your diet, sleep is one of the most crucial elements in helping you boost your energy levels. 

Don’t be like me! I used to think I could sleep when I was dead. I survived on five hours of sleep at one stage and crammed a hectic life into the other 19 hours. I eventually suffered from burnout, and I suspect I am still paying the price for this. 

3. Embrace your passions  

I read a quote a while ago that I have struggled to trace since. It said, “We aren’t tired from doing too much; we are tired from not doing enough of the things we love.” 

We often get stuck in a cycle of work and household chores. We don’t allow ourselves time for our hobbies and interests. We get so busy being busy with dreary things, and it becomes exhausting. 

But if we give ourselves a little time to invest in things we love, we come alive again. Our energy levels soar, and we vibrate with energy. 

Reconnect with your passions. Get out there and do something for yourself. And watch as the energy starts to effervescent through your body! 

4. Spend energy to get energy  

We have to speculate to accumulate, right? And this also translates to energy expenditure. 

We may not have the energy to go for a walk or a run. But I guarantee you will feel energized afterward. 

I’m an endurance athlete. I drag my body out for a run when the sofa seems more appealing. It never ceases to amaze me how much better I feel afterward. 

People who participate in fitness have more energy despite “spending” it. Science helps us understand this. The body is an intelligent machine. Mitochondria are organelles in our cells; they convert glucose derived from carbohydrates into energy, known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Athletes have a higher number of super-efficient mitochondria than your average person. 

5. Get rid of dead weight  

I refer to two things in relation to getting rid of dead weight. 

Firstly, if you carry excess body weight, I guarantee you will be graced with an energy boost if you lose some weight. I don’t say this to body shame anyone. And only you will know if your weight is weighing your energy down. Revert to tip 1 to help you on your weight loss journey. 

Secondly, I also mean emotional weight when discussing getting rid of dead weight. Anything in your life that leaves you feeling drained is an obstacle to feeling more energetic. If you can’t expel it from your world, erect healthy boundaries to ensure it doesn’t sap your energy. It might be a relationship with a difficult family member or a community commitment. Maybe you have addictions you are trying to break. Whatever it is, don’t let it suck the life out of you. 

💡 By the way: If you want to start feeling better and more productive, I’ve condensed the information of 100’s of our articles into a 10-step mental health cheat sheet here. 👇

Wrapping up 

Energy and enthusiasm are available for everyone. This article highlights that you, too, can get the energy levels you crave. It may take a few tweaks to your lifestyle. 

Remember our top 5 tips to help you be more energetic: 

• Eat your way to vigor. 
• Sleep to restore. 
• Embrace your passions. 
• Spend energy to get energy. 
• Get rid of dead weight. 

How do you increase your energy levels? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments below!