Feeling tired? Juggling work, family, school, a social life, or any other number of obligations means that your sleeping schedule can suffer. While it’s important to prioritize sleep for your health, there are times when feeling sluggish is unavoidable. To help combat that fatigue and give you a quick boost of energy to power you through your day, we suggest trying one (or several) of these sensory pick-me-ups.
Stimulate your olfactory senses with grapefruit
Grapefruits are a great source of several vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C. This juicy, bittersweet citrus fruit has the power to energize your senses: grapefruit oil or its essence is able to upregulate the central nervous system and stimulate the brain. The invigorating scent wakes you up and provides that little extra energy boost when you need it. Try an herbal tea, an essential oil, or even the fruit itself.
Stretch your hip flexors
Often overlooked, this muscle group not only has the power to help prevent falls and improve balance, but also to energize your body. Especially if you’re sitting down for long periods of time during the day, it’s important that you give these muscles a stretch. Try lunges - or, if you have more space, you can also stretch your hip flexors by doing a typical “bridge” stretch: begin laying down, place your feet flat on the floor and your arms flat at your sides, then push up into a bridge position using your hips, glutes, thighs, and back.
Utilize Acupressure Points
Similar to acupuncture, acupressure is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that promotes healing, wellness, and relaxation by targeting specific areas on the body. Studies suggest that pressure on acupoints can ease pain and fatigue. Try applying firm pressure to these 5 points with your thumb or index and middle fingers to promote an extra boost of energy. Hold each for three minutes, massaging gently:
The base of your skull, just to the side of the spine
The pad between the joint of your thumb and index finger
The top center of your head
These are just a few natural ways to promote energy, but we think they're a good start, no matter where you find yourself feeling sluggish.
