This is how I Keep My energy up!
Pretty much every student and client I have seen this week has said the same thing: I’m so low energy today! I feel super groggy! It was so hard to get myself ready to workout that I almost wanted to cancel!Same, my dear friend, same!
The days are growing noticeably shorter, autumn is settling in and gloomy weather has the skies awfully gray lately in Taipei it seems. And so many of us FEEL it, fighting to keep ahold of routines we know benefit us but which are tempting to just push aside until spring or sun returns. After all, sunlight stimulates serotonin in the brain, and lower serotonin can be linked to increased fatigue, lower mood, and our perception of pain.
For me, small but purposeful actions can ward off the feeling that I’m just dragging through the days. Here are some of the steps I try to add to my days to keep myself more energized and connected to my health!
Stretch station. Anyone else feel stiffer and more aches and pains when the weather is so blah? I keep a yoga mat, a foam roller, and massage balls in the corner of my living room. Instead of sitting still on the sofa while watching tv at night, I stretch or roll my body for relaxation and relief!
Crockpot comfort. Cooking a full dinner when it’s dark outside feels extra exhausting after a long day of work. Throwing veggies, beans or lean proteins in the slow cooker earlier in the day allows me to come home to super yummy-smelling soups, chili, or stews which helps to deter me from eating whatever I would grab at the convenience store. I get that warm feeling from healthful comfort food without too much effort!
Make a date. I often tell my students, even I wouldn’t be motivated to come teach this class today if I hadn’t committed to being there for them in advance.😅 Waiting for motivation to workout really only gives me more time to mull over excuses in my mind. Committing to seeing a friend or student during class keeps me accountable and also has the added benefit of connecting to others during a season we are alone more often. Connection and exercise definitely lift my mood, so grab a friend and sign up for an in-person class!
Tea time. Gloomy days have me in a “I deserve a pick-me-up treat” kind of mode.I’m searching for a reward at the end of the day or a break from bleakness. Lately I’ve found firing up the kettle can make me feel like I’ve got sunshine in a cup! Lemon teas brighten my afternoon and chamomile blends make my nighttime routine feel like a relaxing ritual.
Musical Momentum! When it’s time to head out the door, get started with chores, or trudge through a miserable commute, nothing gets me moving like music. You know that once the first song of the warmup hits, suddenly the energy follows in class. Get uplifted at home with the great tunes in our On-Demand Classes, join us in-person class for our dance party, and check out my Spotify playlist to see if you can make even ordinary activities more fun and bright with our great class tracks!
Here’s to all of us staying connected to feelings of wellness, energy, and light even during dull dark days! Here to keep you smiling, sweating, and shining all year round!
Keep moving!
xx,
Katie
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