If there is an energy shortage club,  I think I would be the first to enlist.  With the endless list of things to do, there is no room for sluggishness or fatigue.

There are kids to take care of. A household to run.  A blog to update.  A business to manage.  And a jabba-the-hut body that is begging for an exercise.

ENERGY is much needed to do all of it!

Since they have not discovered the ultimate-energy pill just yet I might as well avoid energy suckers.  Things I do that robs me of much needed energy to propel me throughout the day.

1.   Lack of Sleep. 

In a University Lecture, it is said that sleep gives our body and brain the time to relax and recharge.  It restores and repairs brain tissue, helps memory retention, and helps in growth.  Without sleep, our immune system suffers, affects out response times. Chronic loss of sleep can alter the way our body works and produces energy, causing fatigue.

2.   Too Much Sleep.

Alternatively,  too much sleep can also make us groggy.  Notice after a looong sleep,  our body is looking for the bed all day long? According to an Ezine article and I verified in Wikipedia and WebMD,  our body sleeps in 90 minute cycles.  Therefore our sleeping hours should be divisible by 1.5 hours.  If you wake up in the middle of the sleep cycle,  your body will be asking you to complete the cycle all day long.  If you divide 8 hours by 1.5 hours you will run short of the 1.5 hours cycle.  You should be having 7.5 hours of sleep instead.

3.   Sugar.

We often joke that our rambunctious kids get their energy from all those sugar but notice the dip in energy a few hours after, not to mention the cranky meter is all the way up on the dip.

Sugar can give you a temporary energy boost since it is easily digested, but when that "high" wears off, you may become even feel sleepier and slower to react, according to a 2006 study from England's Loughborough University.

If you must have that sweet,  go for fruits which will have the right nutrient content.

4.   Caffeine.

Caffeine just doesn't do it for me.  I am not a coffee drinker and consuming even just a cup of coffee for a few consecutive makes my heart palpitate faster and makes my hands shaky and sweaty.  I guess I'm one of those people sensitive to caffeine.

According to health.com,  caffeine—and coffee in particular—will give you the jolt of energy in 15 minutes of drinking a cup.  But since caffeine can stay in your system for 12 hours, its effects continue long after your latte is gone.  Bad news for people with sleep problems, like me.

5.   Inactivity.

Muscles store and therefore provide energy. The more muscles you have the more energy stored in your body.  Of course we can't develop those muscles,  sitting in front of our computer all day.  That is why committing to an exercise schedule is a must.

6.   Dehydration.

Water makes up about 70 percent of your body. It acts as a solvent to carry nutrients to the cells and transports waste products to be excreted by the kidneys, lungs, and bowel. When you don't get enough water, blood flow to your organs, including your brain, is slowed down making you tired. I always keep a bottle of water near my work area.

7.   Lack of Oxygen.

The lack of oxygen going through the lungs, bloodstream, and to the brain can cause sleepiness, an inability to concentrate, dizziness, and tiredness. Try deep breathing instead of the shallow breathing that we are accustomed to.  To do this,  we have to intentionally do deep breaths, be mindful of our breath and inhale slowly until we feel our tummy expanding and exhale slowly till we feel our tummy collapse.

8.   Poor circulatory system. 

According to kidshealth, our blood provides our body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. It also carries away waste.  The movement of the blood through the heart and around the body is called circulation.  If we have a healthy circulatory system,  our body receives the right amount of oxygen and nutrients at all times giving us energy.

There are natural remedies to improve blood circulation like eating garlic and herbs like Gingko Biloba. Circulan,  a natural herbal medicine that promotes healthy blood circulation, can help us regain much needed energy.  I am on Circulan right now,  and though my energy level is not yet enough to cross out my entire to-do-list,  it has improved my zing.

For more tips to a healthy lifestyle,  visit and like Circulan's FB page.

9.   Excess Weight.

According to SeattlePi.com, gaining as little as five pounds can cause fatigue. "If your body's carrying extra weight, it's exhausting. It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired."

So control that urge for that rich red velvet with loads of cream cheese on top and take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Each pound you lose will give you the energy boost.

10.   Negative People. 

They suck the energy out of us like a vacuum cleaner on turbo mode.  Let us surround ourselves with happy people.  And if there are some unavoidable negative people around,  we should try to be more understanding of them.  And try, for our peace and happiness, not to argue with them:-)

Credit goes to Dumb Little Man.com from where this list is inspired.  To get more energy tips read 10 Worst Energy Zappers and 12 Surprising Things that makes you Tired

With you in this Happy Chaos called Parenting!

Disclosure:  This post is written by TheGoMom for Circulan.

Reference:

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/01/how-to-avoid-10-worst-energy-zappers.html

http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/12-surprising-things-that-are-making-you-tired-896009.php#ixzz2VCT1N4O9