Top 10 things to increase daily energy levels

Everyone has crap days.

Everyone has days when they feel like there's lead weights on their eyelids!

It doesn't have to be like this.

Unless you can't be bothered to make changes.

If you're not interested you wouldn't be reading this.

So we know you want to know.

What we don't know is whether you want to spend a bit of time IMPLEMENTING things.

Don't read this if you have no intention of changing your days into energy-fuelled productivity machines.

Here's the Top 10 Energizers for you.

1) Do not drink ANY caffeine. It will have the opposite effect. What goes up must come down. In this case you come down further than you go up!

2) Get some exercise for crying out loud! Exercising early in the morning will have you buzzing (if you do an intense session not a mediocre jog which is enough to put anyone to sleep!). It's a vicious circle which will see you energy levels spiral so you want to exercise more resulting in higher levels of energy and 'happy hormones'!

3) Eat 5-6 small meals per day with carbs and protein in. Small meals like this take 5 minutes to eat because they're small. Use a protein supplement as a last resort if you only have time to knock a milkshake back - you'll be amazed at the difference. This is critical.

4) Get to bed before 11pm. Get up when the alarm goes off. No snoozing. It won't help but WILL make you feel drowsy all morning.

5) Eat breakfast. The excuse of not having time is absolute rubbish and you know it. It's a pathetic excuse because you could just go to bed 10 minutes earlier and get up 10 minutes earlier, you're just too lazy and it sucks!

6) Have a plan of jobs to do in the day. When you are doing little bits of everything it will stress you out more and mentally drain you - I'm still practising this but it makes a big difference. Taking 10 minutes to plan in the morning will make you ultra-productive and more up for getting everything done!

7) Mid-afternoon is normally the worst time because people eat big lunches then experience a similar come down to coffee at 10am! Try to exercise outdoors at lunch time then eat half you lunch straight after and the rest about 3 hours later so your energy levels are constant. It also means when you're knackered at 5pm you don't have to think about the gym. The natural light outside will do wonders for you as well!

8) Eat clean food. All the preservatives and chemicals in processed food is really hard to digest which means higher body fat and more energy wasted on digestion. It will slow you down and make you sluggish. Avoid anything that comes out of a packet. Don't 'cut some out' - eliminate it.

9) Drink lots and lots of water - more than feels normal. I'm taling 5-6 pints of water each day at regular intervals. Flush out your system and everything will function better giving you a spring in your step and keeping you brain functioning properly.

10) Take time out to recharge the batteries. This is something I've always been bad at but this year's really hit home that I am not invincible and need to sit back and watch the world go by sometimes. Turn your phone off after 8pm, turn the TV off after 9 (the lights and noise will stress you out) and just read a book or listen to music (I like ministry of sound chill out tunes personally!). Gather your thoughts then come out the blocks in the morning (as soon as the alarm goes off - remember no snoozing!)

If possible put the kids in a cupboard and lock the door - they'll get over it.

Jon