By Laura Jackson
1. Enjoy some sun. As the days get shorter in winter, our sleep and waking cycles often need to readjust. Getting outdoors in natural sunlight can help with sluggishness and
provide a valuable, pure dose of Vitamin D.
2. Snack. Though snacking often gets a bad rapthe right kind snacking can prevent you from making bad choices because you’ve simply let yourself get too hungry. Eating healthy, high protein snacks, as simple as an apple with peanut butter, can make a big difference in sustaining your energy level until your next meal. Plus, snacking can keep your blood sugar levels stable to avoid the highs and lows that happen when you go too long without replenishing.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, snacks should have protein and fiber-rich carbohydrates to provide lasting energy. Their advice: “Keep in mind that snacks are not intended to fill you up, but to bridge you from one meal to the next.”
3. Move your body. As a mecca of winter sports, Park City definitely has you covered here. From skiing and snowboarding, to snowshoeing and hiking and everything in between, there’s always an active choice available. Even a 10-minute walk can make a difference and leave you feeling energized the whole day.
4. Laugh. The physiological changes of our during laughter have the power to boost energy, bolster immunity and even burn calories, not to mention improve a lethargic mood.
Dr. William Fry, a pioneering psychiatrist from Stanford University who studied the physiological effects of laughter in the late 1960s, is considered the father of gelotology (the study of laughter and its effects on the body). He conducted a groundbreaking study showing that 20 seconds of intense laughter could double the heart rate for 3-5 minutes, an accomplishment he compared to 3 minutes of strenuous rowing exercise.
5. Stretch. Tight muscles can actually use more energy to get going. Stretching increases the circulation of blood and oxygen, sending vital nourishment to your muscles. From Yoga and Pilates, to Tai Chi and Qigong, to all sorts of dance and martial arts, the options are nearly endless. This season, explore a new way of stretching and notice a welcomed energy lift.
6. Breathe deeply. It can be as easy as taking 10 deep breaths in the afternoon when you feel your energy dropping. When you consider that the average amount of time a human can go without breathing is a mere 3 minutes, and that brain damage can be permanent after only 6 minutes, it creates a certain urge to inhale a big, long breath.
Research shows that taking the time for some deep breaths during the day has been known to drop cortisol levels, decrease your heart rate, lower your blood pressure and reduce stress, all leading to improved energy.
7. Power nap. The clear that this is the natural sleep pattern of humans.” Research shows that a short nap of 20-30 minutes can help increase alertness and improve mood and performance. Some notable nappers: Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Napoleon, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison were all known to value an afternoon nap.
Find a workout buddy. We all know that when someone else is counting on us to wake up early and get going, even if it’s still dark outside and a little cold (or absolutely freezing), it’s so much more likely to happen. And just being with a positive person who shares a healthy lifestyle goal can bolster your energy level.
8. Find a workout buddy. We all know that when someone else is counting on us to wake up early and get going, even if it’s still dark outside and a little cold (or absolutely freezing), it’s so much morelikely to happen. And just being with a positive person who shares a healthy lifestyle goal can bolster your energy.
9. Get a massage. Twist my arm again. Well okay, if it can mean extra energy. Studies show that many benefits of massage, such as relieving muscle tension and increasing flexibility, can be energizing as well as relaxing. It simply makes sense that an enhancement in blood flow and improved circulation stimulated by massage could also translate to an amazing surge of energy.
10. Stimulate your senses. Whether its listening to a soulful artist belt a heart-soothing tune, smelling the rich aroma of coffee brewing at your favorite java spot, or taking in a majestic mountain view, Park City presents abundant options for tempting each of our senses and awakening energy.
