Lifestyle

5 Strange Tricks to Help Boost Your Energy Naturally

We've all experienced the moment when, after powering through the morning at the office and ticking a few things off of your workday to-do list, we hit a wall. Maybe it's the morning coffee wearing off, or maybe you could have had a heartier lunch, or maybe you just didn't sleep as well last night as you probably should have – whatever the culprit, an out-of-the-blue energy crash is never ideal. That's why we're all about having a few tricks up your sleeve to help you remedy the situation when it strikes (and, no, we're not talking about an afternoon caffeine pick-me-up). From changing when you drink your morning brew to keeping a pack of Orbit on hand (don't worry, we'll explain), here are a few of the most interesting ways to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.

Drink your coffee after 9:30 every morning.

Thought all that mattered was just having your coffee, but not so much when you had it? Think again. Because cortisol levels are at their highest between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., this is the time of the morning when you're naturally the most energized, too. That in turn means that it's the part of the morning when your least likely to need a caffeine jolt. Instead of wasting the energy-boosting effects of coffee by sipping it when you're already at your most alert, save the java for when your cortisol levels start to drop – i.e. between about 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Keep some cinnamon essential oil on hand.

Or, you know, some cinnamon sticks on your desk. Why? It turns out that the smell of cinnamon can play a major role in kicking fatigue when it strikes. Just like tangy, citrusy scents have the power to make you feel less anxious or nervous, cinnamon can be great for boosting your alertness and making you feel more energized. All it takes is a little dab of cinnamon essential oil under your nose (or a whiff of just about anything else that's cinnamon-scented) to help boost your energy in no time.

Have a stick of gum.

But not just any gum (bubblegum is out). The secret is to always keep a bit of mint-flavored gum on hand. While chewing gum in general can help boost your heart rate and get more blood flowing to the brain (say hello to increased focus and productivity), the flavor and scent of mint is ideal for stimulating you and getting your energy levels back up when they're a little low.

Get a pair of orange-tinted glasses.

Getting through a workday without having to look at a screen for a long time is seriously unlikely. So since you can't quite avoid it, minimize the problem by grabbing a pair of specs with orange or yellow-tinted lenses. The tinted lenses will help block out harmful blue light that is emitted from electronic devices, whether we're talking about your computer screen, your phone, or the TV. Since that blue light can inhibit the production of melatonin, it subsequently means that it'll be throwing off your sleep schedule pretty drastically, whether you realize it or not. And, of course, with bad sleep comes regular daytime fatigue.

Curate the perfect feel-good playlist on Spotify.

It's no secret that upbeat tunes have a way of making us feel a bit more upbeat ourselves when we need a little boost. But aside from just the feel-good vibes that come with a good playlist, it may even do you a little extra good when you really feel the music you're listening, too. Whether that means singing along or just tapping your foot along with the music (singing in the office, after all, isn't exactly the best route to), the key is to engage with the music you're listening to in some way. Studies have shown that this kind of interaction with your music helps boost your mood and your energy levels tremendously.