Introduction
Staying energized is critical during those busy days. However, busy days are also extremely draining. So what's the secret to staying energized even during your busiest days? We talked to some people who lead some crazy busy schedules to get their advice on what you can do to keep your energy levels up even when your calendar is full. Here are the top tips they had to share:
Maintain a Sleep Schedule
It can be tempting to stay up late or get up early so you can check a few things off of your to-do list, but altering your sleep schedule is going to negatively affect your energy levels during these busy days. Did you know it can take several nights of consistent sleep to adjust back to a normal sleep routine after even one late night?
"Maintaining a sleep schedule is extremely important on your busiest days," says Harry DiFrancesco, CEO of Carda Health. "While you may feel like you need more waking hours in the day to make it through everything, the reality is that a few hours of missed sleep will affect your next several days which are probably pretty busy too. Rather than skipping sleep, prioritize tasks and try to get to bed on time each night. You'll be more productive when you're well rested."
Eat Well
Eating a balanced diet can be a challenge on your busiest days because even taking time to eat can be a task. Don't skip lunch in favor of accomplishing more tasks. Do your best to eat well through your busy times to maintain your energy and take care of your body.
"I know I'm usually more tempted to grab fast food on busy days because it's easier than cooking," says Brittany Dolin, Co-Founder of Pocketbook Agency. "But, if you know you have busy days coming up, a much better option is to meal prep. Cook some balanced and energizing meals ahead of time so you don't even have to drive somewhere to grab food. It's even more convenient than a drive thru and so much better for you. Your energy levels will be maintained rather than crashing after a few hours when those fast carbs burn off."
Drink Water
While you may be tempted to mainline caffeine on your busy days, it's still important to drink enough water. Unfortunately, many of your favorite energy boosting drinks contain ingredients that will dehydrate you. Water helps our bodies function to the best of their abilities and prevent dehydration.
"Dehydration can make you feel sluggish and unmotivated," says Rachel Roff, Founder and CEO of Urban Skin Rx. "Rather than reaching for another source of caffeine, try drinking more water to chase off symptoms of dehydration. These can range from lethargy to headaches and brain fog. Obviously none of these symptoms will help you on your busiest days. That's why it's important to make sure you're staying hydrated!"
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise is great for helping you stay energized on your busiest days. Running and other cardio activities release chemicals in your brain that help you feel refreshed and energized. Plus, if your body gets into the habit of exercising regularly, you're more likely to feel energetic on your busiest days.
"Science has proven that regular exercise helps promote brain function and energy levels," says Ryan Delk, CEO of Primer. "Get up and get moving! On your busiest days, your exercise routine may have to be modified, but it can still help to go for a quick run or hit the gym for half an hour to reenergize during those busy times."
Look for Snacks to Energize You
It can be so tempting to reach for those guilty pleasure snacks in the vending machine. Instead, stock up on snacks that you can keep on hand to fuel your body well. We've already talked about the importance of eating balanced meals - let's make sure that healthy mindset extends to snacks too. Stock your desk, purse, backpack, and home with snacks that will fuel your body and mind with energy boosting nutrients!
"I know I'm more prone to snacking on unhealthy things when I'm stressed or super busy," says Ian Heyman, Founder of Male Drip Protection. "Keeping a stash of snacks like nuts, granola bars, dark chocolate, yogurt, or oatmeal in a place that's easily accessible can help me save money at the vending machine and feel more energized too. These are also great snacks for people looking to improve their health and wellbeing too."
Enjoy Energizing Beverages Sparingly
While it's not a great idea to exclusively drink these beverages, as long as you're drinking plenty of water and fueling your body well with food and snacks that are healthy, there's no reason to avoid a cup or two of your favorite caffeinated coffee or tea.
"Coffee and tea actually can have some great health benefits if you're only drinking a cup or two per day," says Brandon Adcock, Co-Founder and CEO of Nugenix. "The trouble comes with adding tons of sugar or creamer to these drinks. You can quickly create a sugary concoction that can harm your body's nutrition levels and your teeth. Rather than energy drinks or fancy coffees with lots of flavored creamers and sugar, try sticking as close as possible to black coffee or tea for an energizing boost."
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Mind over matter has a grain of truth when it comes to staying energized even on your busiest days. If you wake up and start the day with the mindset that you have too much to do and you'll never accomplish anything - then that might just come true. Focus on the positive and encourage yourself.
"Find something in each task that you enjoy to look forward to," says Annu Daniel, CEO of Elohim Company. "If you can maintain a positive mindset rather than focusing all of your energy on how tired you are and how much you'd rather be resting, then your energy levels are going to drop. Keep a positive attitude and you'll see your energy increase as a result."
Schedule Time to Rest
When you're super busy, it's easy to forget that your body needs to rest on occasion too. If you have multiple busy days in a row, make sure you're scheduling time to rest. Whether this is in the evening before bed or between meetings, it's important to take time to let your body and mind slow down and recharge for a bit.
"Taking a snack break or a power nap - even a half hour of scrolling on your phone can be a great way to decompress and prepare for the next tasks in the day," says Susan K. Shaffer, President of Pneuma Nitric Oxide. "Traveling days can make this difficult but do your best to rest during the day even if that means you have to build in rest times to your schedule."
Spend Time in Nature
Get outdoors and take advantage of your local natural surroundings. Fresh air is a great way to re-energize on your busiest days. Go for a walk at lunch, take a hike on the weekend, or simply sit outside while you're taking a break to enjoy nature and stay energized even during your busiest days.
"Nature is a great way to boost your energy even on a busy day," says Karim Hachem, VP of eCommerce at La Blanca. "Go outside and take time to breathe. Listen to the birds, feel the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Take a moment to remember that the world is more than your busy day. Removing some stress through experiencing nature can be a great way to improve your outlook and energize yourself."
Take a Nap
While this option isn't always feasible, it can definitely help when it's a possibility! Taking a nap is a great way to boost your energy on busy days. A full sleep cycle takes about 90 minutes, so it's recommended that you take either a short power nap or commit to the full sleep cycle and nothing in between.
"Sleep is a great way to boost your energy," says Ryan Rottman, Co-Founder and CEO of OSDB Sports. "A 10-20 minute power nap is perfect for boosting your energy levels. However, if you're not able to power nap, you could also go for a full REM sleep cycle nap and schedule a 90 minute nap in your day. Unfortunately, those aren't always possible on your busiest days. The reason you don't want to nap longer than 20 minutes is because of the way sleep cycles operate. A nap longer than 20 minutes is likely to leave you feeling more tired than you were when you laid down unless you complete the sleep cycle."
Conclusion
In conclusion, staying energized on your busiest days can be hard. However, these tips and tricks can help you boost your energy levels and care for yourself better when you feel like there's no end to your to-do list. Take care of your body by eating right, sleeping on a schedule, drinking water, and taking naps that are timed well.
You can also boost your energy using things like caffeine and positive thinking, but both of these will only take you so far. Getting out in nature is another great way to relieve some stress and help you stay energized even during your busiest days.
