It’s only early in the afternoon and you are ready for a nap or even for bed. Sound familiar?

It may seem that feeling exhausted, getting too little sleep, and relying on coffee is a normal part of being an adult. Contrary to what you might think from pop culture, or talking to your friends and colleagues, it is NOT normal to feel perpetually tired. In fact, chronic fatigue is usually a sign of underlying health issues.

If you’ve been dealing with tired mornings, afternoon crashes, and low energy throughout the day, this article is for you!

You can create the health, vitality, and happiness you desire and deserve. These six powerful tips will help you stay energized and focused all day long. Additionally, by moderating your energy levels and maintaining optimal health, you may also be able to support healthy sleep habits, fall asleep easily and stay asleep all night!

When your body gets proper rest, it can better regulate energy levels throughout the day. It’s a cycle of energy your body needs! That’s why I recommend sleep-supporting supplements such as Rest and Restore™. So dive in and get all the information you need to stay energized and focused all day long.

 

6 Tips to Stay Energized and Focused All Day Long – Infographic – Amy Myers MD®6 Tips to Stay Energized and Focused All Day Long - Infographic - Amy Myers MD® https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/stay-energized/6 Tips to Stay Energized and Focused All Day Long – Infographic – Amy Myers MD®

 

1. Start Your Day by Going Outside

Natural sunlight signals to your brain that it’s daytime. It also stimulates vitamin D production. Vitamin D is essential for healthy immune function, mental health, and hormonal health.1,2

For some, morning is the perfect time to exercise or go for a walk outdoors. However, even if you skip the walk, simply stepping outside, breathing in the fresh air and stretching can wake up your cells. If you are close to nature, even better. Connecting with nature can boost your immune system, lower your stress levels, improve your mood, and benefit your physical health.

2. Fuel Yourself with a Protein Smoothie

Starting your day with a smoothie is a foolproof way to stay energized all day long. Smoothies are nutrient-dense, yet easy to absorb and digest. They bring you sustained energy for the morning, without sending you on a blood sugar rollercoaster and making you reach for an unhealthy snack.

You want your smoothies to be protein-packed. Protein is absolutely essential to fuel your body’s functions all day long. I always recommend animal protein from a clean source. And yes, animal protein can come in the form of convenient protein powders for your delicious morning protein smoothie!

My Paleo Protein powder is sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows that were not given antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs, so you can be sure you’re getting the cleanest protein possible.

The Myers Way® Paleo Protein comes in 5 delicious varieties to satisfy all your cravings: Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Mocha Latte, Salted Caramel, all of which pack in 22 grams of protein. I also offer an Unflavored version that has an incredible amount of protein — 26 grams!

For extra vitamins and minerals, toss some organic frozen fruits and greens into your protein smoothie. You can even supercharge your smoothie by adding a scoop of my Organic Greens Superfood Juice Powder, which is a blend of 14 organic plant foods rich in essential phytonutrients. It is a particularly helpful idea if you don’t have fresh greens on hand.

You can also add a scoop of my Collagen Protein powder. It’s rich in the four key amino acids necessary for a healthy gut, metabolism, bones, joints, nails, skin, and hair.3

3. Skip Coffee to Avoid Crashing Later

Coffee may give you an instant and temporary buzz, however, in the long run, it is not a good source of energy. The energy you get from coffee isn’t long-lasting and leads to crashing, fatigue, and coffee or sugar cravings for another quick fix. Because caffeine is a stimulant, you can develop an addiction and become dependent on coffee. As you develop a tolerance, your body will crave more coffee to experience the same energy boost.

Caffeine delays your circadian clock by about 40 minutes, making falling and staying asleep more difficult and interfering with quality, restful sleep. Coffee can also increase catecholamines, your stress hormones, which can contribute to fatigue, inflammation, and disease. Drinking too much coffee can also lead to jitters, headaches, dehydration, insomnia, and high blood pressure.4,5,6

Start your day with a protein smoothie or green juice made from fresh greens and vegetables or my Organic Greens powder. This will give you an instant pick-me-up without all of the harmful effects of caffeine. Herbal tea, chai lattes, and golden milk are also excellent options. Drinking plenty of water (about eight to ten glasses a day) will keep you hydrated, which will help you stay alert.

4. Eat a Nutrient-Dense Lunch and Dinner

The Myers Way® is based on one principle: food is medicine. If you eat foods that your body needs, you can achieve an energetic, vibrant state of health. Focus on nutrient-dense fuel for lunch and dinner such as grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish and organic fruits and vegetables. These will keep your blood sugar stable and your body satiated and energized.

Avoid Toxic and Inflammatory Foods

Toxic and inflammatory foods have no place in your diet as they contribute to inflammation, leaky gut, autoimmunity, and other chronic health issues.

Toxic foods to avoid:

  • Processed and refined sugar
  • Processed food, junk food, and fast food
  • High-fructose corn syrup
  • Trans and hydrogenated fats
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Additives, preservatives, dyes
  • Alcohol
  • GMOs

Inflammatory foods to avoid:

  • Gluten
  • Dairy
  • Corn
  • Soy
  • Eggs
  • Nightshades
  • Gluten-free grains (if following an autoimmune protocol)
  • Legumes (if following an autoimmune protocol)
  • Any foods you are personally sensitive or allergic to. Food allergies and sensitivities can lead to inflammation, autoimmunity, and chronic illness. I recommend a 30-day elimination diet to find your personal culprits.

Eat Nutrient-Rich Foods that Support Your Immune System

To support your immune system and overall health, and to provide you with an abundance of energy daily, follow The Myers Way® and ensure your diet full of the following foods:

• High-quality protein: Eat plenty of high-quality protein to ensure your body receives all the amino acids it needs. Choose organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised, and wild-caught meats. These can include pasture-raised chicken, 100% grass-fed beef, grass-fed pork, grass-fed lamb, pasture-raised duck, pasture-raised turkey, wild game, and wild-caught fish.
• Vegetables: Aim to fill half of your plate with vegetables, including leafy greens such as kale, bok choy, spinach, and arugula, as well as other vegetables including zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, beets, sweet potatoes, squash, and cauliflower. Mix it up to get the abundance of the rainbow.
• Fruits: Fruits are filled with necessary vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber that support your immune functioning and gut health. Raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries are some of the best fruits you can eat thanks to their low sugar and high fiber content. However, feel free to enjoy a wide variety of seasonal or frozen fruits.
• Healthy fats: Fats are not the enemy. Your body needs good fats to repair the cells of your gut wall, to help the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and to keep you satisfied longer. Avocados are my favorite source of healthy fats. Avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, flax oil, and chia oil are also fantastic sources.

The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook contains over 150 recipes featuring foods that are packed with the nutrients you need to overcome autoimmunity, support your overall health, and keep you focused and energized all day long. There are plenty of nutrient-dense and delicious lunch and dinner options you can choose from including magnesium-dense Zucchini Noodles with Spinach-Kale Pesto and Omega-3-rich Honey-Ginger Glazed Salmon. 

5. Choose Snacks That Are Packed with Protein & Fiber

Choosing the right snacks can be difficult when you are leading a busy life. There are temptations from vending machines to snacks in the office, not to mention those seemingly “healthy” yet incredibly inflammatory, processed and sugary granola bars on the market.

Eating sugary or processed snacks as an afternoon pick-me-up is not only detrimental to your long term health, it can also lead to blood sugar crashes and even more fatigue down the road. Make smart snack choices to stay fueled, healthy, and energized.

Organic fruits and veggies are always a great choice. However, simple grab-and-go options that you can conveniently keep in your bag, desk, or car are sometimes necessary. Try making these delicious Paleo Cookie Dough Bars at home to bring on-the-go.

6. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is absolutely necessary in order to have the energy you need throughout the day. I recommend getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night for adults.

Tips for quality sleep:

  • Stick to a regular sleep/wake schedule. Go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day.
  • Exercise. Try to get 20-30 minutes of exercise a day (even just a light walk can do wonders!) and spend time outdoors daily.
  • Develop a nighttime routine that allows you to wind down. Following a similar routine each evening will signal to your brain that you’re preparing for sleep (not to mention it will help ensure you go to bed at the same time each evening!). Engage in calming activities, such as reading, stretching, meditation, relaxation exercises, coloring, or journaling. You can check out my personal nightly routine for restorative sleep here.
  • Turn down the thermostat. As your body prepares for sleep, your core temperature drops making a room that is 60-70˚F ideal to induce your body’s natural sleep state.7
  • Limit blue light exposure and use amber glasses. The light from our phones, computers, tablets, and lightbulbs is what’s called blue light. It signals your brain that it’s daytime, reducing the production of melatonin, the hormone your body produces to tell your body and brain to feel sleepy and go to bed.  I recommend wearing amber glasses as soon as the sun begins to set in order to block blue waves. I wear a pair of Fitover Night Swannies from Swanwick every night to block out harmful blue light rays.
  • Take a supplement. Rest and Restore™ is a physician-formulated combination of targeted amino acids and minerals. It’s designed to support relaxation and a healthy night’s sleep. Rest and Restore™ will help you reach the deeper stages of sleep with its ideal combination of Pharma GABA®, L-Theanine, Magnesium, and Glycine.

Starting your day with a delicious protein smoothie, ditching coffee, eating a nutrient-dense lunch and dinner, choosing the right snacks, and getting a good night’s sleep will help you stay energized and focused all day long. Following these tips and living The Myers Way® will enable you to create the energy, health, and happiness you desire in your life.

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