We all have our days where were a little extra tired. Sometimes those happen far and few between, and other times they happen more often than not. Whatever the case may be, we need to re-energize ourselves, as quick as possible.

So, what do we lean on when circumstances arise such as this? We drink coffee. We allow dangerous energy drinks to load our bodies with extra fuel. We do unnatural things to gain what we view as ‘natural’ energy produced by the body. This is wrong. This is not the way to go.

Instead, I’m going to give you a few options that are safer for you to incorporate into your daily routine. What’s the best part about these options? They are entirely inexpensive.

Let’s start!

Drink vegetable juice.

Believe it or not, drinking vegetable juice will produce a type of ‘shock’ in your body. Don’t worry, it’s a good shock. Let me explain a little bit.

When vegetables are converted to juice, they become easier to absorb throughout your body. This in turn allows you to do less work, yet still reap the benefits of the nutrients provided. And, the vitamins and minerals you obtain through vegetable juice will actually provide energy to your cells.

In addition, if you feel like you’re getting sick, drink some vegetable juice. This action will keep your energy levels full so that way you won’t feel sluggish before, during, and right after being sick.

Don’t buy any store bought juices, though, as they’ll give your body unnecessary sugar. Make your own at home or look up some all natural recipes.

Sleep a little bit more.

Let’s be honest: Lacking sufficient sleep will get you feeling exhausted early the next day. Instead, try squeezing in an extra hour or two of sleep each night, so that your body can recuperate from the day’s activities.

If you’re having additional trouble sleeping, incorporate some of the following into your daily routine:

• Create a sleep schedule that you follow every day, even on weekends
• Eliminate caffeine after 3 p.m., as caffeine can stay in your system for up to 10 hours
• Write in a journal before you go to bed about what you may think is keeping you up at night

Cut out some carbohydrates in your diet.

Carbohydrates do produce energy for your body to use, it’s true. However, foods heavy in carbohydrates can have the opposite effect. For example, foods and drinks that have such heavy carbohydrates are known as soda, sweets, and processed foods. To further the example, pasta and white bread would be two main foods to avoid when trying to get adequate sleep.

So, why do carbohydrates like pasta and white bread make you feel sluggish? The answer is simple. They provide your body with a very quick boost of energy, but then your body experiences a huge drop in energy levels soon thereafter.

Instead, stick to foods like whole grain pasta. Your body will take longer to digest this, which will in turn provide more energy for you to use. Such foods would consist of nuts, sweet potatoes, oats, and brown rice.

Eat chia seeds.

Chia seeds are extremely inexpensive, and they are known to be little foods with huge amounts of energy within them, as if they are an energy powerhouse. Even the Mayans and Aztecs would eat them way back when.

Not only do chia seeds help wake you up, they also improve your sleep quality, boost essential processes in the brain, and drastically reduce inflammation throughout the body.

This super food will not let you down when you start to get tired.

Hydrate yourself with adequate water and the proper amount of electrolytes.

I bet you didn’t know one of the first signs of dehydration is feeling tired, did you?

Well, it’s true. Not enough water can lead to severe sluggishness.

You don’t have to drink only water throughout the day, though. You can fuel up on other drinks as well, just be sure to have enough water in your systems, as our bodies are primarily made up of this liquid.

Don’t start to think that this is a lot of fluids, though. Be sure to understand that even fruits and vegetables have water in them, so this counts, too. Eat more of these foods and it will be even easier for you to stay hydrated.

In addition, if you work out regularly or have just been outside sweating a bunch, be sure to load your body up with electrolytes. Try not to grab those unhealthy sports drinks, though. Instead, grab some water and add some lemon or honey to it. Coconut water does the trick, too. Avoiding sports drinks is a must, as most of them are loaded with unnecessary sugar.

Take your B vitamins.

Believe it or not, B vitamins are known as the ‘energy vitamin.’ Specifically speaking, vitamin B12 is the best out of all the B vitamins, especially when it comes to boosting energy levels within the body. In addition, vitamin B12 keeps the blood cells roaming around your body happy and healthy.

You have to keep in mind that vitamin B12, specifically, gets depleted from the body very easily. This is why each and every day you need to supply your body with more of it, whether it is through the foods you eat or the supplements you take. So, keep up with this vitamin if you want a full energy boost.

Drink green tea.

Instead of drinking not-so-healthy drinks like coffee, opt for green tea instead. This temporary booster of energy not only helps out with your sluggishness, it also helps with anti-aging, and with no processed ingredients.

Apply peppermint essential oils.

As far as essential oils go, peppermint oil knows exactly how to stimulate your senses to wake you up entirely, while at the same time improving your brain functions. I know it may sound silly, but it’s true.

Besides its ability to stimulate the brain in a positive way, it can also get rid of agonizing and annoying headaches. All you have to do is dab a few drops onto your wrists when you’re feeling tired. You can also add some to your morning shower to give you an additional daily boost.

Last but not least, exercise daily. This is self explanatory, right fellas?

By Jenny Lyn