Healthy Eating Tip: Power Up Your Energy

In honor of National Nutrition Month®, my colleague Dr. Jo Lichten shares her tips to help you power up your energy and savor the flavor of eating right.

Wish you had more hours in the day? Unfortunately, there’s no magic wand to make that happen. But by generating more energy, you can be more productive. Check out these actionable tips:

1. Fuel your body. Did you know that nearly three quarters of our total calorie needs are just to keep us alive? And, for that we need a constant source of “fuel.” Start the day with a nutritious breakfast and then eat regularly throughout the day.
2. Manage stress. Think back to a time when you were nearly in a car accident. Do you remember how your body quickly reacted so you could maneuver the car out of harm’s way? That “fight or flight” response of our stress hormones provides a sharp state of alertness, but leaves you exhausted afterward. Stop dwelling on what you can’t control, and focus on what we can – your thoughts, actions, and reactions.
3. Move it, move it. People who exercise on a regular basis report more energy, even with the same amount of sleep. And, even 10-minute chunks of activity count toward your total exercise needs. When you feel that slump coming on, stand up and move: walk up and down stairs or take a quick, brisk walk down the hall or around the building.
4. Sleep undisturbed. Throughout the night, our body goes through continuous 90-minute sleep cycles, flowing from a light REM sleep (when we dream) to deep sleep and back again. Getting both types of sleep help us stay healthy, emotionally stable, and make better decisions. Whenever our sleep cycle gets interrupted (by a sound or movement), the body has to start the cycle all over again. So get the kids into their own bed, kick the pets out of the room, and ask your snoring partner to get medical help.

Hopefully, these tips give you plenty of options to keep your productivity up all day long.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Jo®, inspires busy people to stay healthy, sane, and productive. Jo is the author of five books including Reboot: How to Power Up Your Energy, Focus, and Productivity. She also consults with Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute.