Jump Start your Day with Energy

We are celebrating November as “Energy month.” Why? Because the holiday season can be overwhelming and we can be our best if we focus on energy.

This blog post was written by Jessi Thome a student majoring in dietetics at the University of Minnesota. Since I am known as the “Energy Igniter” I asked her to write about the ways to energize your morning.
woman and mountains

I am not talking about an energy drink with 200 calories in it. Instead, adjust your mornings so you are prepared for the day instead of dreading it.

Some days I wake up and it’s hard to jump start the day. But then I look back at night when I look back at the day I sometimes wish I could have accomplished more, or would have eaten better, or would have motivated myself to workout instead of constantly coming up with excuses not to. I have been told over and over that in order to get in a habit you have to do a routine for a consistent 20 days at least. Routines are hard to get into, but I thought if I got into a good morning routine I would feel better the rest of my day. And I was right. This routine is a way to jump start my day and gives me the energy I need to have a great day.

So here is my “How To” jump start your day with energy:

  1. 7 hours of sleep

The amount of sleep you get in a given night will affect your energy levels. In order to get a good night’s sleep try to get on a sleep schedule and go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning.

  1. Meditation

This does not mean you have to sit cross legged and say ummmmm, instead have a moment of silence and review your life vision. It is important to have both short and long term goals prepared so you know what you are working towards every day.

  1. Physical activity

Studies show that getting off the couch and getting active in the morning will boost your energy for the rest of the day. Instead of hitting the snooze button a three extra times go for a morning walk or run to start the day off right. Even on the days that you feel you are running out of time in the morning it is important to give yourself that extra twenty minutes to wake up in the morning and be physical. On my runs I also use this time to meditate. It’s a good chance to think about what I want my day to look like, and what I am trying to accomplish.

  1. Cold shower

Not only does it facilitate physical and mental wellness. But with the cold shower our heart rate speeds up which releases a rush of blood through our entire body. This effect gives us a natural dose of energy for the day!

  1. 30 grams of protein

Protein is vital brain food. Eating protein for breakfast helps with energy production, wakefulness, hunger, and motivation. 7 grams is like eating one egg, ¼ cup of cottage cheese, an ounce of cheese or an ounce of meat or one –half cup beans.

Pick one to energize your day. Don’t wait. It’s never too late to change your morning and feel great about your day.