How to Boost Your Energy Levels in Winter

Dec 12, 2018

health , self , wellbeing

The quest for increased energy....this is a big one for a lot of people, I feel!

The ongoing desire to keep energy levels up or at least consistent, to feel like you don't have to rely on substances to pick you up, or even not knowing what your energy is going to be like as certain situations simply drain you.

For years my energy was all over the place – some mornings I would wake up feeling on top of the world and would flow through my day getting loads done. Other days I’d need a couple of coffees before 11am, have a craving for chocolate and sweets and couldn’t wait to get back into bed.

As we are moving into winter in the northern hemisphere, keeping my energy up is something I find harder at this time of year. I totally feel my mammal instincts want to be honoured and I should be hibernating for the next few months...sadly, that’s not an option! So instead I make small adjustments to how I care for myself, to feel as energised and good as I possibly can.

There are so many different tips and tools which can support you with energy in various areas of your life. Ultimately it’s about experimenting and finding out what works for you.

We are each different and have different things that affect us, so I invite you to look at your particular situation and see what things are affecting you. The best way to do this is by starting to look at how you feel at certain times of the day or after certain situations, noting what you’ve eaten and drunk too. Awareness of ourselves, instead of going through life on autopilot, really is the first step to making changes.

A few things you could start to consider:

Are there any situations / people that are draining you? It may be that you commute to work and find that this, along with being in an office full of people exhausts you.
It may be that you have someone in your life who is constantly demanding your time and attention and you find yourself constantly giving to them.
It could be that you feel tired after eating and find yourself reaching for quick-fix foods to boost your energy such as sweets, soft drinks and caffeine.
Perhaps you have just said ‘yes’ to too many things?

Then as you start to become aware of the situations that might be affecting you, you can begin to start making small changes…

This could be setting clearer boundaries with others
It may be looking at what you are eating and drinking on a daily basis, as what we put into our bodies affects our energy levels. It can be a vicious cycle of craving sugar and caffeine for a boost, having it and then crashing, only to crave it again. Perhaps you are dehydrated?
Perhaps it’s starting to look for a different job or way of working that isn’t so draining?
It could be doing more mindfulness and meditation practices, to help you de-stress? Maybe it’s saying ‘no’ more?

It may also be that your energy is being affected in a number of areas in your life. However, I recommend you begin by addressing one area (perhaps the one that seems the easiest to begin with) and making little changes, then moving onto another.

What could be affecting your energy? What changes could you start to make?