5 natural ways to boost energy without caffeine

Do you find yourself wishing you had more energy? Do you find yourself reaching for a coffee or an energy drink as a pick me up? Are you cranky without a cup of coffee?

You are not alone! I hear from many of clients they wish they had more energy. The problem is, we tend to rely on things which provide at best, only a temporary boost and come with a whole host of negative side effects.

Perhaps you are overwhelmed juggling a demanding career, personal care time, quality family time, or maybe you simply are too tired due to lack of sleep with a new baby, hustling with a new business or acute stress!

No matter your situation, we’ve all been there. We’ve all wished for more energy!

Chronic Fatigue

Did you know that more than one million Americans have chronic fatigue? Chronic fatigue leads to increased stress. Stress manifests into disease by lowering our immune system and wreaking havoc on our microbiome, gut health and mental health.

The seriousness of chronic fatigue and stress needs to be taken seriously. If you rely solely on artificial means for a boost of energy you have a high risk of disease later in life as there are scientific proven long-term health effects.

Extended use of caffeine causes insomnia, restlessness, stomach upset, anxiety, headaches and so much more. I’m not saying don’t have a cup of coffee in the morning, or a matcha mid day. I’m saying the amount you drink and the form you choose to drink is what matters.

You don’t have to sacrifice your health to find an energy boost, there are healthy and sustainable ways. There are alternatives to caffeine to boost your energy.

People often ask me where I get all my energy from without drinking coffee. There was a time when I did drink the odd espresso, but every time I did my hands would shake. Shaky hands are not acceptable as a makeup artist. So, I simply stopped! With crazy early call times and non stop travel, I learned over the years some alternative energy boosting practices. My favourite is a good night’s sleep.

Get a good night’s sleep:

Aim for a minimum for 8 hours of pure blissful sleep. Turn off all technology an hour before your head hits the pillow. Listen to calming music, practice meditation, or read a good book. Read more about blissful sleep here. If you go to bed stressed out or obsessing over your to do list, chances are you won’t get enough restful sleep. Tomorrow’s energy levels are directly linked to today’s sleep quality.

Move your tush:

Turn on some crankin tunes and go for a walk, have a dance party, do a mini workout routine (3 sets each of squats, pushups, (or burpees) alternating reverse lunges (lunge backwards, this works your tush and protects your knees) and finish with a 1 minute plank). Not only will you feel energized physically, but emotionally too as movement stimulates your happy hormone! Not only will you look better but you will feel better too! Sign me up!

Daily movement is one of the 3 pillars I build my day and my life around – MOVE, NOURISH and INSPIRE. Move more, Nourish you mind body and spirit and surround yourself with those who inspire you to be the best version of you!

Essential oils:

Peppermint, and citrus oils (wild orange, lime, lemon are my favourites) are both mentally stimulating and uplifting at the same time. Place a few drops of either in your palm and inhale. Be sure to use only CPTG (certified pure therapeutic grade oils free of any toxins and chemicals) You can read more about my passion for essential oils here.

Eat high energy foods:

Ditch refined carbs! A lot of people don’t understand how draining highly processed and sugar filled foods are. Not only do they contain little to no nutritional benefits, but they are hard on our bodies digest system making our body work harder to break them down. Sugar switches on the opioid receptors in our brains, creating a ‘need’ for more sugary and fake foods. You might feel a temporary high, but the inevitable crash is not pretty leaving you even more exhausted. Be sure to download my shopping list before you next head to the supermarket!

Meditation:

A 20 minute meditation is the equivalent of an hour power nap. With meditation, you can live with less anxiety, worry and stress, and create the perfect mental environment for recharging your batteries. Chronic fatigue and stress need to be taken seriously. When our mind and body are under acute stress we unnecessarily trigger our fight-or-flight response — and at the same time release the stress hormone “cortisol”. If you are wanting a more natural & stable energy supply, cortisol is the one chemical where less is better.

Meditation works in a similar way as fitness does and studies show it boosts endorphins even better than going for a run does. Try my favourite meditation playlist and read more about why manifesting and meditation are part of my daily routine here.

Next time you are feeling lethargic and want to reach for a liquid pick me up, try one of my top 5 tips for a new found energy boost and let me know what you think. Be sure to share these tips with your loved ones! I’d love you to pin it on Pinterest or share it on Facebook. Post on Instagram. (tag me @achampagneyogi, #achampagneyogi), I’d love to hear all about your caffeine free energy experiences.

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