***** Positive Thinking, Happy Living

Life force, oomph, chi, prana, passion, energy - whatever you call it, having a sense of liveliness is highly sought after these days, yet quite elusive, given the ever-increasing pace and breadth of our days. Many people worry about their lack of energy, and the number of people feeling fatigued is on the rise. Most frequently, these problems stem from stress, or from what I refer to as "chronic overdoingitis" - but relax, it's curable!

If it seems like your tank is always hovering right around empty, then open your mind and prepare your body for the experience of sustainable energy! Try these solutions to rejuvenate your life:

Envision energy.
Consider the power of your thoughts as an energy source. Do you have a reference point or even a memory of what having energy feels like? Perhaps your beliefs about being able to have energy are limited or even a bit jaded. Scarcity thinking, an outlook of lack and limitation, regret and fear are all possible energy thieves. In his book, The Strangest Secret, Earl Nightingale shared a vision for actualizing an energized self. He details that "thoughts are things" and proposes that what you think about most is what you become. It's true, and so important - be mindful of your thinking and act courageously with your thoughts. Express thoughts that energize you, and be very conscious of ones that don't.

Set daily goals.
You can set an energetic tone for your day by setting goals in the morning that excite you for your upcoming day. Be specific and be sure to include goals that go beyond the typical mundane and fatigue-inducing "to do list." Inspire and motivate yourself with more empowering goals, like, "Compliment a friend today," or, "Explore two new ways to relate to my kids," or, "Write in my journal tonight." Also, check off accomplishments as you move through your day - it's both satisfying and energizing.

Move in the morning.
No more "I'm not a morning person" excuses. Movement is a potent catalyst for energy, and discourages fatigue. If you're chronically tired, exercising in the morning will help. Rather than denying reality through your snooze button, or deepening your dependency on caffeine ("false chi"), get up for greatness and exercise! Movement enables key physiological chemistry - hormones, neurotransmitters, and endorphins rally and conspire for your greatest good when you exercise. Try a walk, or lifting some weights, or even consider beginning your day with prana-promoting yoga and deep breathing practices. Yoga increases strength, circulation, and energy and decreases stress, because it balances energy-zapping stress hormones. Start your day off with movement, and you'll improve your energy level all day long.

Take breaks.
If you want more energy, give yourself the life-affirming blessing of scheduling five-minute breaks, every two hours - and MOVE! Sitting drains energy. Extended sitting, while stressing at your workstation, pretty much destroys it. Walking, stretching, or practicing simple yoga postures can bring you back to life and add peace to your day. By simply employing mindful measures, such as taking healthy deep breaths from your belly rather than shallow ones from your chest, you can sustain your energy throughout the day.

Try acupressure.
If you're experiencing an emergency energy crisis, try acupressure. For energy and tension relief, apply pressure with your index finger or thumb to the point midway between the base of the neck and shoulders. You can also apply acupressure to the midpoint of your eyebrow just above the brow itself.

Try aromatherapy.
Another energizing treat is aromatherapy. Aromatherapy connects to our limbic system in the brain, a focal area that regulates stress levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Try adding energizing oils like clary sage, eucalyptus, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, hyssop, juniper, lemon, and peppermint to a diffuser at your workstation, or apply them directly in diluted doses. It can be scent-sational!
Eat well.

While it seems obvious, for your body to create and sustain energy, it must eat - and eat well. Know that skipping meals, living on refined foods or nutritionally empty foods (candy, processed foods, and simple sugars) will rob you of your ability to feel energized. You must view food and your overall nutrition as integral building blocks for energy. To set a positive, metabolic tone, be highly conscientious to eat in balance. A combination of healthy proteins (from legumes, free-range poultry, fish, and dairy products), and glycemically-balanced carbohydrates (from whole grains, vegetables, and local seasonal fruits), along with beneficial fats (found in olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and deep sea wild-caught fish) should be your starting ground. Avoid saturated, hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fats and oils.

Eat less, more often.
Be mindful of the insidious epidemic of portion distortion, and eat reasonably small amounts throughout the day - about five or six small meals. Be careful not to overindulge in any one kind of food, especially starchy carbohydrates, as this can set you up for a hormonal roller coaster ride that will ensure a mid-afternoon nap rather than an energy boost. Adding energizing herbal teas such as green tea, ginger, peppermint, or ginseng can aid you in your quest for inspired vigor.

Energy may seem like an elusive luxury these days - but it doesn't have to be that way. Take control, and achieve success by implementing a conscious mind-body practice. Open your mind, feed your body, and energize your life!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) nutrisystems Published with permission from nutrisystems.