Boosting Your Energy

When we are feeling stressed and fatigued and another client is due, what can we do to boost our energy? Back-to-back clients and no spare time for us? Here are a few suggestions relevant to our situation:

1. Eat for energy. Nail Technicians do not eat well – most of us skip meals and just stuff something in our mouths to get through the day. Then afternoon lag happens! What do we do about this mid-afternoon slump? We grab something quick and keep moving. How do we stop the lag? Our quick snack must be appropriate to our needs. In general, high-carbohydrate foods have the highest glycemic indexes so watch what you grab for that quick pick up! They should have a low glycemic index — meaning the sugars are absorbed slowly — which may help us avoid that sudden lag in energy. Many foods have a low glycemic index, such as low sugar whole grain bars, high-fiber vegetables, Greek yogurt and other healthy snacks, and will carry us through that lag.

Luckily, as these are frequent quick snacks for nail technicians, bananas are great energy boosters; they contain easily digested carbohydrates that your body can use immediately as well as complex carbohydrates that can carry one through the rest of the day. They also contain potassium, a necessary electrolyte for efficient body function. They should not be overripe, however, as then they have a high sugar content.

2. Sit down and be grateful. Mental health gurus tell us that relaxing, while practicing deep breathing (as in the Wellness Program) to increase oxygen levels, plus counting our blessings – no matter how small - boost not only our immediate outlook but also provide an energy boost. How about feeling grateful for a packed appointment book, even though it tires us out?

3. Take a whiff of peppermint essential oil. This scent is known to increase alertness and concentration for tired people. You can even put it in a diffuser. Notice, though that eating a piece of peppermint candy is not in the suggestion – its simple sugars will let you down later, while the sniff of the essential oil will not. A whiff of the candy can stimulate alertness, also. Really. Keep some nearby in an attractive sealed glass container for your clients to munch on and for you to enjoy the peppermint aroma wafting from it when opening it.

4. Sitting in the sun with a drink for 15 minutes. This amount of sun is our daily minimum for stimulating the production of vitamin D in our skin, an absolute need for maintaining health. Think of this time in the sun as your skin’s cup of coffee! Not only does it boost our immune system, but it also stimulates energy storage. And while sitting there, drink some water! Hydrating is also proven to boost energy levels. Further, get your ounces in per day and your energy levels are more stable. Dehydration causes fatigue as well as reduced alertness and concentration. When focusing on abating hydration you are rewarded in many ways.

5. Tap your thymus. This is a lymphoid organ that is centered between our breasts behind our sternum and in front of and above our heart. The main function of the thymus is to produce T-cells which are important to our immunity, but it is also known that tapping this area reduces stress and boosts energy. This practice, known as Thymus Tapping or Thymus Thumping, is believed to enhance vitality, increase immunity, and clear stagnant emotional energy. It sends powerful calming signals to the Vagus nerve, which regulates the parasympathetic nervous system. This can lead to a sense of lightness, calmness or a sudden surge of energy.

6. Wall hug. Reviving can be as simple as standing close to and facing a blank wall, placing both arms straight up with the back of your upper arms flat against the wall beside your head, and then lifting your chin. Now, bend your elbows and entangle your fingers behind your neck. Stand this way, close your eyes, relax your neck and breathe deeply for a minute or more. Then release, relax and then repeat and you will feel rejuvenation in your shoulders and upper back, even in your neck. A bonus is that this exercise, done at least twice a day, can correct and prevent the back hump that nail technicians may get after doing nails for years.

7. Nosh on cactus. Prickly pear, a cactus, is known as a powerful cure for tiredness, a quick fix. You can buy edible prickly pear at specialty and health food stores, even on Amazon. It’s a great conversation starter, also!

8. Straighten up. Always stand and sit straight, with apparent good posture. It’s been proven that slouching and poor posture can cause fatigue due to stress on muscle and lower oxygen assimilation. Exhaustion is the result as your body must work harder to maintain. So, check out your posture: stand up in your natural posture, bend your head and gaze down at your shoes. Can you see the posterior top of them? If not, it’s a hint that you need to work on your standing and sitting posture. Wall Sitting is one option for improving posture while boosting energy. Lean your back and shoulders against the wall tightly, top to bottom of your spine; then slide down until you appear to be seated against the wall; your upper legs are straight forward at a right angle, while your back is supporting you against the wall; hold the posture for 10-45 seconds. The amount of time varies with your fitness level. Athletes in great condition hold as long as one minute. Wall sitting can provide a boost of energy due to the increase of oxygen in the muscles.

9. Go nuts. Eat a handful of almonds (10-12 are a serving), which are high in magnesium and folate (folic acid). These nutrients are essential for energy and cell production. A lack of these nutrients in your system can leave you feeling weary. A spurt of energy after eating them can be experienced.

10. Eat some chocolate. The darker the better. Dark chocolate contains several different substances that boost your energy. A study from the University of Nottingham found that dark chocolate (more than 70% cocoa) may increase energy levels by boosting blood flow to key areas of your brain for up to three hours. Moderation is the key, of course.

Everyone must find the trick that works for them as an immediate energy boost. Know that allowing yourself to be a victim of this daily lag is unwise and even affect your health; itcan even affect your income. Make conquering late day lag a project and see the changes in your overall life outlook! You are worth it.