How to Have More Energy and Sleep Better

by Nia Shanks | Follow her on Twitter here

Feeling tired and not sleeping well is a very common occurrence with a lot of people. Every day you hear people say they “didn’t sleep well last night” or that they “have no energy.” And because so many people are tired and feeling worn down they quickly go to coffee, soda, or energy drinks as a temporary remedy. Sure, they get a kick of energy for a while, but that is just followed up with feeling more tired than they did to begin with.

Is that just the way things are? Do people really have to go day in and day out feeling tired and run down and relying on stimulants to get them through the day? Can we actually sleep well and be full of energy throughout the day, consistently?

Forgive me if I’m sounding like an infomercial that comes on at five in the morning, but far too many people in our society don’t sleep well and constantly feel run down and exhausted. And instead of trying to fix the problem they seem to just accept it as “that’s just the way it is”.

That doesn’t have to be the case. (Note: I could go into hormones and pH levels among other things in this post, but I'm going to keep it basic and just tell you what you need to do to get results). If you don’t sleep well on a consistent basis and constantly feel exhausted or tired, here are some simple solutions that can help get you back on the right track. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are a few tips in no particular order:

-Reduce and Eventually Eliminate Fast Food Intake – This will be harder for some than others, but it’s a necessary step for better health, improved sleep, and energy levels. In this day and age there is no excuse for succumbing to eating fast food. There are grocery stores and many other options available. And if you have to skip a meal because there aren’t any healthy options, you’re not going to die or starve to death. Suck it up and wait until you can eat something that’s actually healthy for you.

Practically everyone knows fast food isn’t healthy, but billions of people eat it anyway. Fast “food” is full of crap, and it won’t help your energy levels any more than it will help your waistline. Fast food is high in calories but very low in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Seriously make it a goal to eliminate fast food from your diet forever. Your body will thank you.

-Eat More Fruits – Yes, this one is nothing new. Once again everyone knows they should eat more fruits and vegetables, but how many people actually do? Fruits in particular are loaded with good-for-you nutrients and are a great source of energy. A great and delicious way to eat more fruits is by making shakes/smoothies. I do this every single day. I generally use a combination of frozen mixed berries, a banana or two, and then I’ll throw in some other frozen fruit such as mango, cherries, peaches, or whatever I have on hand. And I’ll also throw in a couple large handfuls of spinach and/or kale. Trust me, I don’t like the taste of spinach or kale, and you’ll never know it’s in there.

This is by far one of easiest ways to increase your fruit intake. Try a smoothie for breakfast in place of what you normally eat. Also, stick to fruit for your snacks throughout the day. Another great idea is to make a fruit salad with whatever fresh fruit is available. Since it’s summer time there are numerous fruits you can enjoy. Take advantage of it.

-Increase Your Green Leafy Vegetable Intake – Don’t give me the excuse “I hate salads” because that one doesn’t work. My best friend hates salads and rarely, if ever, eats them. However, she still get’s plenty of leafy greens in her daily diet. Like I mentioned above, you can add spinach, kale or other green leafy vegetables in your smoothies and you’ll never know they’re there. Try it for yourself.

-Reduce the Amount of Processed Food You Consume – This one will probably be the most difficult, but it’s just as important. Once again we live in a day and age when people rely on convenience foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. I know several people who eat boxed cereal for breakfast, frozen pizzas for lunch, and then frozen dinners in the evening. Sure, it’s convenient, but it’s not high quality food that will contribute to higher energy levels or better sleep, or overall health.

Start eating meals that consist of real food; if you can’t find it in nature, then don’t eat it.

Start making changes slowly if need be. For example, start making a smoothie for breakfast and eating fruit for your snacks. Then eat whole, natural, unprocessed foods for lunch or dinner.

Nature gives us the foods that will keep us healthy, decrease our waistlines, and provide us with energy. Isn’t it time we start eating them?

By eating natural food not only will you experience higher energy levels throughout the day, but you’ll also be able to sleep better. Too many people aren’t getting proper nutrition even through they eat a lot of food; it’s because they eat low quality food. Top that off with lots of coffee and energy drinks and it’s no wonder people have difficultly sleeping. The solutions are simple; you just have to apply them.

Don’t say “yeah that sounds like a good idea, I should try that” and then five minutes later forget that you read this post. I’m not trying to force anyone to change because, afterall, I don’t lose sleep over the fact you don’t sleep well. However, I am trying to help people as best I can.

If you don’t sleep well and you lack energy throughout the day, give the information in this post an honest shot for a few weeks. Not one day, not one week. Like anything in life you must be consistent to see results. Yes, it may take some extra effort on your part, but wouldn’t you rather be mildly inconvenienced for a short period and finally sleep well and have energy to workout, play with your kids, and live your life?

As a related article, check out The Weight Loss Miracle Cure.