If the end of the year makes you tired, you aren’t alone.
Days are shorter. The weather is colder. Your body may want to “hunker down” and conserve energy.
Add stress from the holidays into the mix and you may be tempted to crawl onto the couch and stay there.
But you should try to resist that temptation. Once you allow your metabolism to slow down, it can take a lot of work to speed it up again. And a sluggish metabolism leads to even lower energy levels, and then weight gain. It becomes a vicious cycle.
Instead, take some steps to keep your energy level high through these dark, cold months. That way, you’ll be full of energy and ready to make the most of spring once it arrives.
Here are six ways to keep your energy level up while everyone else seems to be hibernating.
- Don’t Skimp on Sleep
- Eat Sensibly
- Make Room for Exercise
- Take Some B-12
- Don’t Forget Your Vitamin D
- Hormone Balance
Adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Period, full stop.
Your body requires this rest to repair and replace worn-out cells. Without it, you wear down physically and mentally.
Make rest a priority, whether you’re at home or on the road.
If you’re sleep challenged, try taking some melatonin before bed. Normally your body produces melatonin as it gets dark so your body can get ready for sleep. But melatonin production diminishes with age and in response to stress, which can make it harder to fall asleep. Taking a melatonin supplement before bed can make getting to sleep easier.
This doesn’t mean you have to say no to Mom’s fudge pecan pie. Just be smart about it.
Remember that desserts are “extra”. Try to treat them that way. Eat a balanced meal with plenty of veggies and a moderate amount of protein…then have a reasonable serving of dessert.
The same goes for snacks. Start with healthy snacks (like veggies, fruit, and cheese), and then mix in the occasional cookie.
It can be hard to fit exercise into a busy holiday schedule, and shorter days can sap your motivation for working out. But it’s worth the effort to keep moving. Apart from keeping your energy level up, you’ll have an easier time managing stress.
On those days when getting to the gym isn’t possible, be sure to at least take a walk after those heavy meals.
Vitamin B-12 helps to transform the food you eat into energy. It also prevents some forms of anemia.
But many people don’t absorb B-12 adequately from food. For these folks, sublingual B-12 or B-12 injections can provide a significant energy boost.
Vitamin D is crucial for muscle function and energy.
Your body can synthesize vitamin D from sunlight, and you can also get vitamin D from foods (like fatty fish and foods that are fortified with vitamin D).
However, shorter days at this time of year can reduce the amount of vitamin D you get from sunlight, and very few people will get sufficient amounts of vitamin D from food alone.
This means most people need to take a vitamin D supplement to stave off fatigue and to maximize their overall health.
Hormone levels decline with age. No one escapes this reality. And one of the most common symptoms associated with hormone deficiency is fatigue.
Fortunately, bioidentical hormone therapy can restore hormones to healthy levels for optimum energy production.
Don’t Wait for Spring! Restore Your Energy Now!
At Renew Youth, we can help to identify the underlying cause of any fatigue you might be experiencing, and we can work to provide solutions.
To learn more, call us at 800-859-7511 or use our convenient contact form to sign up for your free 30-minute consultation.