“ME” Monday® 9-27-2021 Fatigued

Do you ever wake up feeling like you want to go back to sleep?

Have you ever just wanted to put your head on your desk and take a nap in the afternoon?

When you finally finish a day of work, have you ever been afraid to relax for fear you will fall asleep missing out on family or “ME” time?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you’re not alone.

When we feel like we’ve run out of steam, how might we be able to wind ourselves back up again?

It’s hard not to get frustrated when fatigue seems to plague our every day; however, it doesn’t have to.

That’s right! It doesn’t have to.

Sometimes getting a good night’s sleep can feel like a challenge. A sick child may wake us up during the night, a loud car alarm may go off unexpectedly, or maybe we just can’t stop thinking about an upcoming deadline.

It makes it tough to wake up refreshed when we don’t get a quality night’s sleep. The rest of the day  can seem to drain our energy even more.

There are a few simple daily steps we can choose to boost our energy that can make a big difference.

Morning Step #1- Leave a full 20-ounce glass of water by the sink in the bathroom before going to sleep. As part of the morning routine, wash up,  brush your teeth, and then drink that whole glass of water!

Easy right?

“Hydration plays a crucial role in many different body functions. Proper hydration allows our bodies to regulate body temperature. It also keeps joints lubricated and helps deliver nutrients to cells. Drinking adequate water helps us sleep better, improves mood, fight infections, and can improve cognition.”1

“According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.” 2

Drink water throughout the day to replenish what gets used. Though it may be different for everyone, a guide for how much water each person needs can often be based on drinking half our body weight in ounces.

For example, if someone weighs 120 pounds, it can be recommended to drink 60 ounces of water a day.

Proper hydration fuels major components in our bodies so drinking water will keep those parts ready to go!

Afternoon Step #2- After lunch, get away from the workstation or whatever you’re doing at home and go outside. Take a walk, even if it is just around the block, sit on a bench, or visit a nearby park with lots of trees or flowers. It is about getting some fresh air! It may seem too simple; however, it can increase energy and reduce stress! Try it for just 10 minutes at a time and notice how it feels.

If you’re just not able to leave the building, find a quiet place indoors by a window or by a plant and take ten minutes to relax and unwind.

When ending the workday, are we already thinking about our home “TO-DO” list? Consider step #3 to refresh before getting home.

Evening Step #3- Try finding a favorite dance tune to have handy for the car ride home (if still working onsite), listen to it while making dinner, or plug in some headphones and find your “ME” space. Then dance like no one is watching!

Permit yourself to LET GO! Have a dance party of one! You’ll feel the rush of energy!

Even if it’s only for a short time, it can make a BIG difference.

Many of us are working or staying indoors all day with air-conditioning or heaters, especially these days. That can drain our energy too; therefore, any of these steps can help get the boost we may be looking for. Try at least one. We can customize each of these steps in a way that’s best for us.

The more steps we include each day the better we can regenerate during the day and get a good night’s rest.

How might incorporating a “ME” time break in our day help us re-energize? What might be that extra step we can plan for ourselves?

Start today on “ME” Monday®! Developing habits that boost our energy is beneficial to any “ME” time routine!

By implementing a “ME” Monday® routine today, we can improve our overall ROI to have a great today and determine the tomorrow we deserve!

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