People always say they wish they had more time in a day, but I think what they really mean is that they want more energy. How else are they going to get that side hustle off the ground? That future bestselling novel written? That marathon training in? Energy. You don’t need more time; you need more energy. Here are some helpful tips on how to gain the energy necessary to do more of what you love in your life…
1. Know your body
Every body demands different types of things to gain an optimum level of energy. Some people need to work out in the morning, others at night. Some people need nine hours of sleep, others can feel rested after only six. Some people eat a hearty breakfast in the morning, while others grab a granola bar and that keeps them going straight into their day or morning workout. Knowing your body specifically will help you to understand what works and what doesn’t work in terms of keeping your energy up throughout the day. Once you get it down, you can start work on that novel you’ve been putting off!
2. Experiment
Try different routines, schedules, workouts, foods, and see how your body reacts. One of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle is being able to understand what your body needs on a specific level. The only way to truly know this is to make it into a (fun) game of experimentation.
3. Be aware of what kind of sleep you need
Probably the easiest and simplest way to have more energy is by sleeping better. When our busy lives start to kick in, sleep is one of the first things to go. Yet, it’s one of the most vital components to being both healthy and energetic throughout the day. It’s not just about getting more sleep, it’s about knowing your body and how much sleep it requires. (Personally, if I go to sleep past midnight, it doesn’t matter how much I sleep, I will not regain my energy throughout the day.) There’s an optimum time for you to go to sleep and an amount of sleep that starts your day off right. Try to stay consistent within those windows and you’ll notice a significant boost of energy.
4. Get your morning routine down
There is nothing quite like the perfect morning routine for you. Maybe you need a cup of coffee before even speaking to anyone. Perhaps you need to sweat it out before your brain even wakes up. Maybe your ideal breakfast is granola, almond milk, and a banana (mmm, that sounds delicious actually!). Maybe you wake up with the sun and meditate for twenty minutes. Or, maybe the ideal morning is one you spend in nature, the sun beaming on your face, and the only way to wake up is to hit the beach, the trails, the mountains. Whatever it is, find that ideal morning for you and do that as consistently as possible.
5. Find time for nature
The healing and energetic qualities of nature are untouchable by anything else. As humans, we crave the outdoors and you can notice a significant peak in energy if you take a walk outside, even if that walk is only ten minutes. The health benefits of sunshine are incomparable. The sun offers up serotonin, vitamin D, melatonin, and, of course, the added benefit of putting a smile on your face because who isn’t about to be the happiest when the sun finally comes out? Breathe in mountain air or ocean air or desert air, whatever climate you have closest to you, and you will have more energy to devote to the things you love and less fatigue to devote to your Netflix queue.
6. Keep your body well-fed
Many people don’t realize that their low energy could be due to being hungry or from not eating a well-balanced meal. I know that when my blood sugar falls, I suddenly want a nap. Keep your body from falling into that energy depletion mode by eating before you’re hungry, not when you’re in starvation mode and want to stuff an entire all-you-can-eat buffet into your face. Grab healthy snacks like a granola bar and keep them with you, so that you don’t have those energy crashes.
7. Move!
Whatever it is that motivates you to move, go do that. It’s not about “results” anymore, but about what actually gets you excited to get off the couch and move your body. Do that. Do that as consistently as possible.
8. Get your attitude in check
Perhaps one of the most vital aspects of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a healthy attitude. When life is not going your way, keep it into perspective. Nothing is permanent. Tomorrow is a new day that you can use to choose a new path, have more compassion and forgiveness, and to see your life in a new light. When you start to see the good everywhere, it will become a habit
and you can’t help but be uplifted by the goodness around you. A defeatist, negative attitude can deplete your energy just as much as not exercising or eating poorly can. See the good and adopt a positive attitude towards the world around you and you will experience energy boosts (and life!) in a new way. 
