We all get tired or sluggish at times. We find our eyes closing mid-afternoon and it’s not because we need a facelift.

Or maybe it started first thing in the morning when you wake up and literally feel like you’ve only slept for 20 minutes.

Either way, feeling groggy can really put a damper on your day regardless of the time it hits. Not only does the feeling reduce productivity, but it adds to things like dark circles and adult acne which nobody likes!

Here are some quick and easy ways to give yourself an energy boost next time the sleepy-head syndrome strikes.

Cold Showers

Now this doesn’t mean literally hopping out of bed and into a cold shower, but the next time you wake up feeling like it’s been a few minutes since you went to sleep blast yourself with cold water before you get out of your morning shower. It will surprise your body and get your blood flowing.

Laugh

Think of something that makes you laugh every time. Maybe your strong and “manly” boyfriend tripped on his own two feet, or maybe you and your girlfriends have that one college memory that always makes you giggle. Think of these things next time you start to feel tired and the surefire laughs that come about will give you a surefire boost of energy. And make you feel good which is always nice.

Drink Water

Don’t head for the coffee pot, but head for the water cooler. When our bodies start to get dehydrated we start to feel sluggish. Cure those afternoon slumps with a cold glass of water.

Eat Carbs in the Afternoon

If you start to feel tired around 3-5pm you are definitely not alone. Most people feel a dip in energy around this time. A good way to fight that is with some carbs. Grab some popcorn with your glass of water to really fight the fatigue.

Get Some Kisses

Meaning the chocolate kind. Definitely don’t get used to a bag of Hershey’s Kisses every day, but once in a while when the slump hits, eat some Kisses. They aren’t terrible for you on the “candy” scale and they’ll give you a small boost.

Pull Your Hair

We don’t mean to get too kinky here, but if you seriously pull your hair your body tends to wake up. This happens because the pulling sensation on your scalp gets blood flowing to your head. Just keep in mind this is your hair on your head, so you probably don’t want to eliminate this by pulling it out.

Be Nice to Someone

Not only will you be doing a good thing, but being nice to someone generally makes you feel good, them feel good, and your energy levels feel good.

Breathe

If you wake up feeling tired, take a couple extra minutes and breathe deeply. Although calming, it also helps the blood flow in your body which is great for waking you up.

Exercise in the Morning

Seems counter-productive to suggest doing something so draining before you even start your day, but when you exercise in the morning, your body actually has more energy for the rest of the day. Waking up early to get to the gym is a great way to boost your energy levels.

Perfect Your Posture

Sitting up straight literally gets you out of a slump. You automatically look and feel more awake, so as the saying goes, fake it ’till you make it. Good posture at your desk will make you look more awake and in turn help you feel that way too.

What are some other ways you give yourself an energy boost?

Photo courtesy of Peter Morgan