This post has been updated since it was originally published on May 21, 2022.
Let’s be real: not everyone is a morning person—and that’s totally okay. There’s definitely a sense of comfort in just relaxing and sleeping all day long. In fact, waking up, getting out of bed, and preparing breakfast can be somewhat of a struggle. It’s not always easy to start your day right, especially when you don’t have the energy.
But have you ever wondered why this happens? No matter what you do, you just feel so “out of it” with not enough motivation to function. According to Laura Gaston, RD of Busy Gal Nutrition, “It is almost always due to a combination of skipping meals and snacks, having imbalanced meals, practicing poor sleep hygiene, and dehydration.”
She adds, “Imbalanced meals that lack protein and fiber could also cause lethargy throughout the day because of unregulated blood sugar. Meals that are higher in saturated fat especially tend to cause low energy because they are more inflammatory and harder to digest, on top of lowering blood sugar.”
So, how exactly do you address this? If you’re looking for tips on how you can get yourself pumped up and ready for any day, we checked in with Dr. Erin Stokes, Naturopathic Doctor and Medical Director at MegaFood. Keep reading as she shares a few energy-boosting habits you can add to your morning routine.
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Best Morning Habits To Boost Energy
Get your body moving.
Dr. Stokes says, “Try to get outdoors and move your body before embarking on sedentary tasks like working at a desk. Even a short walk around the block makes a difference. One study showed that a brisk 10-minute walk can boost [your] mood. In general, when we experience a mood boost, we also get an energy boost.” Hitting two birds with one stone—perfect!
Stay hydrated.
“Begin the day by drinking a full glass of water,” Dr. Stokes advises. “To make it easy, keep a glass of water by your bedside, and drink it first thing [in the morning]. This sounds so simple but most of us start out our day in a dehydrated state from not having any liquids for 8 or more hours.” She notes, “Dehydration can make us feel sluggish.”
Make plans.
More importantly, Dr. Stokes suggests that you “schedule something into your day that you're looking forward to.” She explains, “Our lives are busy, and it can be a challenge to fit everything in, but making plans for joy in our lives boosts our energy. These can be simple things like blocking off 30 minutes to [go] out with your dog, scheduling time for a phone call with a loved one, or making a coffee/tea date with a friend. [These] can bring increased energy, enjoyment, and ultimately productivity into your day.”
Boosting energy is easier said than done. Not only do we encourage you to follow these tips, but you should also listen to your body and discover what it needs to perform at its best. It can be difficult at first, but we’re confident that with discipline and consistency, you’ll be on the right track!
