Health Advocate Blog

Energy boosters vs. energy drainers

Managing your energy can help you lead a more satisfying life through improved physical and mental well-being. The goal of energy management is to focus on energy-boosting activities that help you feel good, motivated and ready to go, while avoiding energy drainers that deplete your drive, motivation and mood. If you wake up each day feeling tired or regularly experience a mid-day slump, you may be interested in these tips!

Energy booster: Healthy eating

Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day can help keep your metabolism stoked and energy levels up. Snacking on healthy items between meals can also help improve energy levels.

Energy drainer: Choosing unhealthy foods

Food and beverages that provide few nutrients can result in sluggishness, as they don’t provide the body what it needs to function efficiently. Too much caffeine and sugar can also cause a slump.

Energy booster: Physical activity

The more you move, the better you’ll feel. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week.

Energy drainer: Sedentary behavior

When you sit, your entire body slows down, resulting in few calories burned and decreased circulation.

Energy booster: Balancing work and life

Leave work at work and home at home for a more satisfying day.

Energy drainer: Blending work and home life

Allowing your work and home lives to blend can often result in burnout in both aspects of life.

Energy booster: Using stress to strengthen you

Think of stress as a push to power you through whatever it is you’re dealing with. This can provide a significant amount of drive and motivation.

Energy drainer: Letting stress overcome you

While in some situations stress can be difficult to push through, understanding when a situation is, truly overwhelming, or just seems overwhelming, makes a big difference.

Energy booster: Doing things you enjoy

Focus on hobbies or activities that leave you feeling recharged and refreshed. Spending time with family, friends, coworkers and pets can improve your mood and boost your energy.

Energy drainer: Forgetting to take time for yourself

Consistently forgetting to put your own needs first can leave you feeling drained.

Don’t forget the most obvious energy booster: Sleep! Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. When you lack sleep, you lack the energy needed to help you take on each day.