Tips for Boosting Your Energy

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Tips for Boosting Your Energy

by Dr. Y. Marable for http://www.disaboom.com

A low energy level is a common problem that affects thousands of

individuals every day. If you have a disability however, you may

assume that fatigue simply goes with the territory. The good news is

that there are some basic energy-boosting activities in which you can

participate without spending a lot of money or trying to set and meet

unrealistic goals. These include healthy changes in diet, moderate

exercise and proper breathing techniques.

Diet

Diet can be a friend or foe when it comes to energy boosting,

especially if you are living with a disability. A diet that consists

of wise food selections is paramount in your quest to raise energy,

as is developing overall healthy eating habits. Replacing processed

sugar in your diet with honey and fresh fruits is one energy-boosting

activity that is simple and still enables you to indulge your sweet

tooth. Significantly cutting back on caffeine, which can create

dependency, is another step that can be taken. According to Foods to

Fight Fatigue by Zamora Dulce (2008), it is also important to eat a

healthy breakfast each morning that consists of foods such as whole

grain breads, eggs, oatmeal, fruit and yogurt. Eating a healthy

breakfast will raise your energy and help to prevent the midday slump

that slows so many people down. Additional tips include eating a

healthy dose of proteins, which can be found in lean meats, fish and

poultry and eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of a few

heavy meals. And last but not least, don't forget to eat your

vegetables! These are essential to any healthy diet.

Exercise

Exercise is an intimidating word to a lot of people, especially when

it conjures up images of physically fit individuals working out

regularly at the gym or running five miles a day. If you are living

with a disability, you may feel far removed from the possibility of

developing a manageable exercise routine. However, exercise does not

have to be strenuous in order to be effective, particularly when it

comes to energy boosting. Although you may have a disability, you can

still get the exercise you need to raise your energy level. As little

as 15 minutes of simple exercise a couple of times a day, such as

stretching or walking, can make a huge difference by improving your

blood circulation and muscle tone.

Proper Breathing Techniques

As funny as it may sound, the manner in which you breathe can make

you feel more or less tired. It is fairly common for individuals -

particularly when they are feeling stressed - to engage in shallow

breathing from their chest. This can increase the likelihood of

fatigue. Diaphragmatic Breathing by Philip J. Cable (2006) notes that

the proper way to breathe is not from the chest, but rather from the

diaphragm. In order to determine if you are breathing correctly or

incorrectly, place one hand over your chest and the other over your

stomach and take several deep breaths through your nose. If you are

breathing properly, you will see the most movement in the hand that

is over your stomach. Breathing in this manner is less taxing on the

chest and lungs and therefore less likely to result in fatigue.

In short, if you are a person with a disability, you do not have to

give in to feelings of helplessness and live with a low energy level.

Basic energy-boosting activities such as making healthier food

selections, engaging in light to moderate exercise and breathing

properly can make a world of difference. The key is to make changes

that are both manageable and realistic. Doing this will not only

raise your energy level, but will also lead to an overall healthier

lifestyle.

Sources:

Cable, Philip J. (2006). Diaphragmatic Breathing.

Dulce, Zamora (2008). Foods to Fight Fatigue.