Some days this is how I feel. Can you relate?
You know how it is. Some days you wake up and go through the morning routine, but by the time you’ve finished your coffee you can tell—it’s going to be one of those days. Your brain is sluggish, your body feels twice as heavy as normal, and you wish you could return to bed and skip the day altogether. Sigh.
We all have these days from time to time.* Low-energy days can be caused by any number of things, from a lousy night’s sleep, to hormones, to an emotionally draining workweek.
Here are some strategies I’ve tried over the years to get through low-energy days.
Get active. Scientists tell us getting sufficient oxygen to the brain is important for optimum thinking at any time. On days when the brain only functions at 50% of normal, getting the ol’ blood flowing is more important than ever. (And if it doesn’t help, at least you can feel good about the fact you’ve done your exercise for the day.)
Soak up a few rays. I have learned that too many dark, dreary days can get me down. Ditto with too many days hunched over a computer, trying to hit a deadline, forgetting to take breaks and get out in the fresh air. In those cases, fifteen minutes out in the sunshine can do wonders. If the sun isn’t cooperating, I have been known to turn on every light in the house just to help me past the doldrums. It helps.
Eat and Drink. Too much junk food and not enough water can wreak havoc to my system. (Is this the real reason we hate Mondays so much, all that unhealthy junk we ate over the weekend catches up with us?) If I’m feeling draggy, I try to resist the extra-caffeine-and-sugar-pick-me-up temptation. Better to avoid simple carbs, eat healthy and remember to drink extra water. This may not do much for my sluggish brain right now, but chances are tomorrow I’ll feel much better.
Focus on the mundane stuff. When my brain is not functioning properly, making important decisions can be difficult. In fact, making any decision can be a chore. So I tell myself this is a good day to do those boring tasks I’ve been putting off, the kind that don’t require much by way of actual thinking. (Cleaning, filing, paperwork, etc.) I figure I am already feeling out of sorts, so why not tackle a few tasks I dislike. Bonus: Sometimes getting few of those tedious tasks off my list actually improves my attitude.
Just get started. Sometimes my biggest enemy is not my body but Resistance. If I sit down and begin working, even when my brain feels like Jello and I’m sure I can’t put one complete sentence together. Oftentimes, I find that once my brain has something else to concentrate on, it forgets about its pity party and soon I am actually making progress and feeling almost normal. Overcoming the inertia is the key. (Warning, you may have to fight the battle all over again if you take a break. Resist the voice that tells you you’ve written Two Whole Sentences and now you deserve to sit back and treat yourself to a funny cat video. No. No. No. Keep focused and soldier on!)
Up the tempo. Sometimes turning on some lively music can help get us going. Particularly if the lyrics also help by reminding us of the many reasons we have to be thankful. When I feel down in the dumps, listening to upbeat praise songs can be particularly effective in raising my spirits.
How about you? What are your tricks for getting through low-energy days? I’d love to hear them.
*(If this describes how you feel you every day, I suggest you need to make some lifestyle changes and/or consult a doctor.)
