8 Natural Ways to Transform Tiredness Into Energy! (How to Stop Feeling SO Tired!)
What is an article on being tired doing in a blog about self-sufficiency and homesteading? If you keep animals and a garden, grow food and preserve it, perhaps are raising a family and working outside the home, taking demanding educational classes, and other “life” activities….then I’m sure you know all about fatigue!
What can you do about being tired all the time, no matter what the reason is? Here are eight natural ways to deal with fatigue to get your energy back!
Why be Concerned with a Little Tiredness?
Being tired in any way plays a huge role in how likely you are to engage and empower yourself to learn and do new things! To meet new people and be productive in the world. Like many others, I have dealt with "being tired all the time," throughout my adult life.
I know what it's like to raise four kids, work a full time job, get everyone to their respective sports and activities, find time to exercise a couple times a week, and on top of that stay abreast of what are the healthiest options for food for the family (cooking)….and taking university classes all along the way!
Then there is just that tiredness that comes from, well...being tired. How you spend your days has a great deal to do with how tired you feel, too. Are you in a soul-sucking job? Are there aspects of your life that you know need to be changed…but it’s just not time yet? This is tiring, too. And make no mistake: emotional strains cause fatigue.
The thing about fatigue, chronic or not, is that it deeply affects your functioning on all levels: social, spiritual, ability to think, do, create, learn….all areas of your life are affected when you are tired. And this being tired all the time also raises levels of anxiety and feelings of sadness/depression too.
NOTE: Chronic fatigue may be an indicator of a more serious condition, so be sure to see a health professional if you feel this may be the case.
Here are some natural ways you can start to rejuvenate yourself. Some people call this self-care, I guess. But I think much of this lifestyle advice is just common sense.
FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Have you ever been just exhausted in and by your life? If the answer is yes, I can relate. Here are my tried and true natural energy boosters that can really help. These are great for women, men, and even kids. These instant energy boosting tips can reduce fatigue, anxious feelings, and make your life feel 100% better. #fatigue #adrenal #remedies #chronic #extreme #essentialoils #howtofix #howtofight #healingharvesthomestead
Eight Things You Can Do Now to Reduce Fatigue
Lifestyle has a lot to do with how energized you feel. And making just a few little tweaks to you life can yield some incredible results! You just have to do it. Want to stop feeling tired all the time? Try doing these natural things before turning to those toxic energy drinks!
1. Stop drinking alcohol, especially before bedtime.
I used to have a glass of wine each evening to help me go to sleep. The thing is, it DID help me to get to sleep, but then I more often than not experienced BAD sleep. Or worse, I would wake up and not be able to get back to sleep. Once I stopped that bad habit, my sleep improved immensely!!! That's why I put it number one on my "How Not To Be Tired" list.
If you feel the need to have a glass of wine in the afternoon or evening to relax, that’s fine. But try to have it several hours before your bedtime. Give your body time to process it so it doesn’t affect your sleep and digestion during the night.
2. Exercise!
Yep, I bet you knew that one was coming!!! One thing I know for sure is that when I do exercise, I sleep and feel better. When I don't exercise---Well, I don't sleep better. I’m cranky. Exercise helps your body and mind release tension, helps control cortisol levels (that's the stress hormone that your body has to deal with when you feel anxiety or fear or anger--pretty much any negative emotion), and just makes you feel confident and in control.
Any kind of exercise works. There’s a lot of hype out there about which is best: cardio, HIIT, strength training, yoga, whatever. Seriously? Just go for a walk once a day for 30 minutes. If you’re not getting any kind of exercise, that simple action will make a world of difference. Otherwise, pick what you love to do and just do it.
3. Get Some Nutrition!
It's true---when you eat your vegetables, you are giving your body the fuel it needs to function well. And that includes in the arena of sleep. In the past 30 days, I have been on the Whole 30 plan, and I. LOVE. IT!!!! I am transformed!
Basically, you get to eat lots of vegetables, fruit, healthy fats, and clean meat. And that's it.
No grains (including wheat, soy, and corn which are in pretty much everything processed). No legumes. No processed foods. No added sugars. No dairy. No alcohol.
Is it hard? Yes. It's kind of hard at first. And I'm certainly not saying it's the only way to go. But I CAN tell you that my sleep has been completely and radically changed and improved in the past 30 days. And so has my energy levels.
I think that getting rid of foods that cause inflammation is one of the reasons why this plan works so well. All of the above foods that are not allowed on this program (which is basically another level of Paleo) can potentially cause inflammation in some people.
If you can't change your eating, at least take a good supplement. I have found that Source Naturals is excellent. There are other good ones too. But please shoot for quality--even if it's a little pricier.
Quality is definitely price driven in the supplement industry. After doing a lot of research, including poring over the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements, I have found that Source Naturals is always near the top of the list.
Also, I drink lots of nutritional teas. Herbs like nettle, dandelion leaf, red clover, horsetail, chickweed, and many others are nutritional powerhouses. So I blend my own teas and add good spices for flavor. Maybe you’d enjoy some of these herbal tea recipes:
Sensuous Skin, Healthy Hair Herbal Tea
Or, my eBook: How to Create Your Own Herbal Tea Blends for Taste, Health, & Pleasure. (Recipes included too.)
4. Get Some Sun!
The sun not only provides some nutritional benefits (like helping your body make Vitamin D), but it helps to reset your circadian rhythm. If you get a bit of sun (at least 20 minutes or so) before 10:00 a.m., you may be better able to fall asleep at a decent hour in the evening. Anyway, it helps me! Even sitting in a sunny window helps.
I know you know this, but healthy eating can REALLY boost your energy levels.
5. Energize with Essential Oils
There are some amazing essential oils that will keep you alert, motivated, and clear-headed. Try rubbing a couple drops of peppermint on the soles of your feet (it will cool you down too) or rub a drop into your palms and cup over your nose. IMMEDIATE energy!
I was on a plane recently, and I sat with two other delightful ladies. We were talking about fatigue, using essential oils and herbs, etc. One of the ladies was unfamiliar with the benefits of using natural remedies. I pulled out some peppermint essential oil, explained how to use it. She was sold! We all woke right up!
Rosemary, Basil, Cedarwood and others are also great to diffuse or blend into a good carrier oil for helping alleviate feelings of being tired.
You might enjoy these articles on specific essential oils that can be great helpers in boosting your energy levels:
Insane Things You Need to Know About Rosemary
Insane Things You Need to Know About Peppermint
Insane Things You Need to Know About Frankincense
6. Try Not to Stress
I know. This one is SO hard. When you are running a million miles a day, doing this and going there, dealing with deadlines, and keeping your health promises to yourself---It. Is. Just. Plain. Difficult.
The best thing I have tried to do for myself to reduce stress and anxiety, especially as I have aged, are these things:
Get rid of negativity in your life.
That means people, events, anything at all that makes you feel bad. I know you can't always do this, but the more you can the better you will feel.
Meditate and/or Pray.
Actively calming your mind and spirit through meditation and prayer or doing daily devotions has been proven to help your spirit and rejuvenate you. There is something about just letting go, consciously, that helps your mind and soul.
BREATHE.
I taught special needs children with some extreme behaviors for several years during my career. I always taught them to stop and take some deep breaths when they noticed their bodies tensing up. You do have to be in touch with yourself, but if you feel your shoulders hunching up, tension taking over your body, and shallow breathing, do yourself a favor and stop. Breathe. Try to relax.
Try some yoga too---specifically pranayama (breathing). When you move according to your breath, your body and mind can relax. There is some great information online, but do check out pranayama (breathing exercises).
Try getting outside into the sun every day. Not only will your body make extra Vitamin D, but you’ll breathe better too. So go for that walk!
Learn how to make your own herbal salves, oils, butters, & balms in this great eBook!
7. Beat Boredom.
When you are bored, you feel tired. The best thing you can do in my opinion, is just go do something! Turn off the T.V. Go for a walk. Learn something new. There is so much the world has to offer! Find some new interests and get passionate! Having a great hobby helps keep that tired feeling away.
You know what? I just have to say that I can’t remember the last time I was bored. There is just too much to do each day. So if you feel bored, and that is causing tiredness, then consider grabbing a book that is filled with tutorials you can learn something about! Get active—body and mind.
You may want to take a look at my new eBook: Herbal Salves, Oils, Butters, & Balms; if learning about using herbs to make body care and remedy products speaks to you.
8. Be Nice to Yourself.
Please stop the negative self-talk. It gets into your SOUL and DRAINS you. This one was hard for me, and still is, actually. So---it's a process. Stop beating yourself up, and if you have a bad day, make some mistakes, give yourself a big hug and just. Feel. Better.
If you have a hard time with this, like I do, then create some positive affirmation cards using index cards you can carry with you. Read these throughout the day whenever you feel anxious or negative.
Another thing that helps me is to immediately stop the garbage in my head by writing out a quick list of things I’m grateful about. These can even be little things. Anything!
Another thing to try is to detox from your social media. Sitting on social media for hours on end consuming content that only causes you to compare yourself to others is bound to mess up your energy. If you can’t just get off social media because maybe you have to engage somewhat because of your work, then at least set aside several hours of the day that are free of social media and the comparison trap.
Peppermint has volatile oils that naturally boost your energy and brain power! Try a quality peppermint essential oil or drink up some peppermint tea.
Final Thoughts About How to Re-Energize Yourself
These are the 8 best natural things I have learned to do over the years to just help keep myself going on and on and on! Having good energy is so important to everyone! Live your best life, love the things you do if you can, and take good care of yourself--especially your mind. Get your mojo back using these natural strategies!
How do you stay energized? Please share with us in the comments!
You may also be interested in these natural health articles:
The Healing Powers of Honey—Seven Ways to Use This Golden Elixir
8 Easy Things to Do Every Day to Take Care of Your Heart Naturally
How to Prevent a Cold or Flu Naturally
There’s LOTS more on the blog too, so feel free to browse away! :-)
Hugs, Health, & Self-Reliance!
Heidi
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional of any kind. This is personal opinion based on experience and study and is for informational purposes only and not meant to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose any illness or ailment. Always seek advice from your medical professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Choosing the right herbs can help you boost your energy naturally by providing excellent nutritional benefits. Even if they are low- or no- caffeine!