It’s 2 pm.  

You skipped your lunch break to work to a tight deadline, and suddenly, your eyelids become heavy, the stress is building, and your stomach is grumbling. You scurry around for something quick to eat and find a bar of chocolate stashed at the bottom of your bag. 

Do you:

A)   Grab the bar of chocolate and carry on working.

B)   Take a break, eat your packed lunch and get back to work once you’ve eaten.  

If you chose option B, you’re on your way to feeling more energised. If you chose A, don’t be surprised if you end up feeling more tired and stressed thirty minutes later. 

If you’re looking to avoid the afternoon slump, I’ve got your back.

Below are my six top ways to naturally support your energy.

1. Prioritise Sleep:

While sleep seems like the most basic of solutions, nearly half (48%) of all Australians have sleeping difficulties.(1) No wonder so many of us complain about being tired all of the time!

If you are feeling tired, please, please, for me, prioritise your sleep.

I recommend setting a sleeping schedule, watching your stimulant intake and creating a sleep-friendly bedroom.

If you want more tips about optimising your sleep, head over here. 

2. Eat Regular Meals:

Unless you’re intermittent fasting, I recommend consuming regular, nutrient-dense  and iron rich meals and snacks throughout the day.

At each meal, aim to have a source of protein, healthy fat and fibre to stabilise your blood sugar levels. 

3. Move Regularly: 

I know after a poor night’s sleep, the last thing you want to do is head to a HIIT class, but regular exercise is excellent for fighting fatigue.

I recommend mixing up your movement to fit how you’re feeling -  as I get older (I'm 55 this year), I love a mix of hiking, yoga and reformer Pilates, but find what works for you. 

4. Fulvic Humic Concentrate: 

If you’re eating all the right things and still feeling tired, it may be time to consider incorporating Fulvic Humic Concentrate (FHC) into your routine. Fulvic and Humic, known as shilajit in India, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3000 years as a revitaliser, sleep regulator and mood stabiliser.

FHC helps naturally remove toxins, metals and bacteria from the GI tract to support healthy immune system function, reduce oxidative stress and strengthen our cells.

Modern research indicates that it relieves fatigue, increases oxygen flow to the brain for improved alertness and assists energy metabolism.   

5. Check in With Your Stress:

Chronic stress can disrupt sleep and lead to fatigue and low moods. So, how are you feeling, and how stressed are you? Are you doing anything to support your stress? 

As a yoga teacher and clinical nutritionist, I’m always looking for different ways to help people manage their stress. Some of the practices I recommend are listed here.

Last year, I took up Vedic Meditation to help manage my stress and deal with what I was experiencing at the time, and it’s made an enormous difference to my mental health and energy levels.

If you feel stressed, I encourage you to seek professional help from a doctor, therapist or psychologist.

6. Assess Your Nutrient Deficiencies:

If your energy is feeling depleted, consider checking out your iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D and thyroid levels with a trusted doctor.

These vitamins and minerals are essential for optimal energy and can quickly become deficient in vegetarians, vegans, menstruating women, people who have chronic stress or issues with nutrient absorption.

If you’re looking for a hit of minerals, FHC contains over seventy trace minerals. 

It’s time to check in – how are you feeling, and what do you need?

Lee xx

(1) https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/risk-factors/sleep-problems-as-a-risk-factor/summary