Walking to your lunch destination and eating in the courtyard, at the nearby fountain, or corner cafe will also help you raise your energy level. You can also combine your walk with a breath of fresh air outside. It will be clear to everyone what you're doing, and you may just start a trend.ĭon't Miss: 11 Exercises to Do While Sitting at Your ComputerĬSULB professor of psychology Robert Thayer, author of Calm Energy: How People Regulate Mood with Food and Exercise, found in a study of 37 individuals that 'there was a clear and strong relationship between the number of steps they took and their overall mood and energy level.' Those in the study kept track of their steps with a pedometer, an investment you may want to make as well to keep a running total of what your ideal step count is (and perhaps set a personal goal to best it each time). Walk around the bullpen or to the break room for a cup of water or do a set of jumping jacks or pushups in the hallway. To reverse tiredness here, simply get up and move about. Sitting still though can convince your body it's time for sleep and affect your circadian rhythm, that 24-hour endogenous cycle that helps set our sleep-wake patterns. Sitting in one place for too long can lead to fatigue, though varying your tasks can help. So that apple is a good choice (the baked potato not so much). Note: Fruits and vegetables are simple carbs, but act like complex ones (one exception is potatoes).

So choose the right foods for that working lunch or afternoon snack. While you don't get the immediate high, you also don't experience the subsequent crash. The rise in blood sugar levels, however, also triggers the pancreas to produce insulin, which consequently 'prompts cells to absorb blood sugar for energy or storage.' As a result, your blood sugar levels get zapped and you start to quickly come down from that high.Ĭomplex carbs on the other hand, such as whole wheat bread and whole grain pasta, take longer to break down, thereby providing a more balanced energy boost. The body breaks down carbs into sugars, and simple carbs are quicker to break down than complex ones, resulting in a quick burst of energy. Foods with high sugar content provide a fleeting 'high,' only to be followed by a low in which our bodies feel tired and/or sleepy.ĭon't Miss: Tasty Low-Carb Pasta Alternatives That Aren't Just Shaved Vegetables We've all heard of the 'sugar crash,' where fatigue sets in after we've had a good dose of simple carbs in the form of soda, candy, chips, a plate of pasta, etc.

Things to keep u awake