The Biggest Energy Zappers

The Biggest Energy Zappers

 1.  Thirst - You lose the equivalent of 10 cups of water from everyday living. And you replace only about four cup of water through eating.  Hidden dehydration robs you of energy and makes you feel lethargic.

 2.  Darkness - When it's dark, your body says "Sleep."  When it's light, your body says "Get up and move."  When you get up in the morning, open the curtains immediately.  Get as much light as you can, and you'll feel more energetic.

 3.  High-Fat Diet - Have you ever finished a meal and wanted to go lie down?  That's because you fed your body high-fat foods, which tend to make us leathargic.

 4.  Poor Sleep Habits - If you don't sleep consistently at the same time for at least eight hours or more, you are probably throwing your body out of whack.  It doesn't know when it's supposed to be awake and when it's supposed to be asleep.  Sleep isn't an indulgence; it's a necessity!

 5.  TV Watching - When feeding your mind with television, you are encouraging your body to be passive.  Even "smart" shows, such as History Channel programs or the evening news, can "zap" energy because they turn your body to "sedentary" mode.  So take television in moderation and make sure you're being active the rest of the time.  Sitting in front of a computer screen has the same passive effect on your body.  Get up and move your body!

 6.  In activity - If you don't use it, you lose it.  Even little things such as climbing stairs or carrying heavy groceries can zap yor energy if you don't regularly use your body in other ways.  So walk, run, bike or play a game of basketball, anything to get your body moving!

 7.  Pessimism - Attitude is the key to experiencing life.  Being pessimistic about your relationships, your job, or anything in your life zaps your energy.

 8.  Unfulfilling Work - If you spend much of your life involved in work that seems to serve no puurpose, consider a change.  If that's not possible, try volunteering outside of your work at something that you do feel is worthwhile, to give you a new perspective on your life.

 9.  Strained Relationships - Perhaps nothing causes as much stress as tension with the ones you love.  It colors your outlook on everyhing else.  Make sure you take time to nurture the relationships with the ones you love.

10.  Disorganization - Wasted time and energy zaps you.  And disorganization is one of the major culprits.  If you routinely hunt through drawers to find things, if you find yourself always scrambling, it could be that you haven't organized your life as well as you could.  Take a look at the things that waste your time, and see if you can do these things differently.  Soon you'll find yourself with lots of time you never had before.

Karen Laing - Vibrant Life Magazine

September - October 2001