LIVING HEALTHY Published January11, 2015 By Staff Reporter

Meditation, Napping- Energy Boosters as Effective as Coffee

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(Photo : Sandra Mu | Getty Images Entertainment)

Coffee is the most popular go-to for people who wish to get an instant boost of energy during the day. Although coffee does make us alert with its caffeine content and strong aroma, it is not necessarily the healthiest (especially if you pile up on the sugar or artificial sweetener, and trans fat-filled creamer). Thankfully, there are other ways to kick start your day and regenerate you on lazy afternoons.

Here are some of them:

Stand more. Sometimes, sitting too much in your office chair can contribute to your low energy. Stand more, as research has found that standing even for just three hours a day during the workweek can be an effective calorie burner, almost equivalent to running 10 marathons a year. Stand from time to time out of your desk, or better yet, try accomplishing some tasks standing up.

Meditate. Meditation has been widely researched as beneficial to concentration, inner calm, self-control, and self-awareness. It also helps reduce anxiety and need for sleep. Meditation is best done in the morning, even before starting to sue any electronic device. Allot 20 minutes each morning to meditate, as this can completely jumpstart your day in a positive and energized direction. Starting small is key (around five minutes then gradually increasing the duration each day).

Take a Nap. A great deal of research has confirmed that taking cat naps can increase productivity throughout the day. In fact, a study conducted in 2008 has found that a power nap is more effective than caffeine. A NASA study has discovered that a nap of 26 minutes can contribute greatly to productivity, increasing it by as much as 34 percent. The next time you may be feeling a little off and going low in energy, try taking a quick nap instead of rushing to the coffee vending machine. However, naps shouldn't be overdone, as it can be difficult to re-align yourself midday after a 2-hour sleep. 

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