When you’re feeling tired, engaging in physical activity may seem like the quickest way to feeling more tired, but it actually does the opposite.
Exercise – particularly low-intensity exercise – increases your heart rate, blood flow, and oxygen circulation, which combined, give you a natural energy boost. Better yet, this increase in oxygen not only supports energy production, but also allows your body to use its energy more efficiently – helping you retain more of it throughout the day.
In this blog we share eight movements to do when you need an energy boost.
Stretching
Perhaps the simplest of the lot, engaging in a series of stretches is a great way to relieve stress and re-energise your mind.
Different stretches have different benefits, so the key is finding the ones that make sense for you and make you feel good afterwards.
Walking
A walk can do wonders for your energy. Plus, since all you need is a comfortable pair of walking shoes and some open space, it can be done almost anywhere – perfect for when energy levels are low and you don’t want to make any extra effort to exercise.
If you stick to a suitable pace, you also won’t exert excessive strain on joints, which you might otherwise experience with higher impact exercises.
So, lace up those walking shoes and head outside for a walk around the block, by the water, or through a scenic nature strip. If you can’t get outside, a walk around the floor of your office or up and down the stairs will do just the trick for getting those steps in.
Jogging
If you’re fitness levels allow, pick up the pace with some jogging. Just be sure not to go too hard – into a sprint – or else you could be left feeling more tired than when you started.
Light Swimming
Got access to a pool? Swimming laps or performing water aerobics is another great way to replenish your energy and have you stepping out of the water with more vigour than when you got in.
The great thing about swimming is that it’s a low-impact exercise that doesn’t put any extra effort on your joints and muscles, often allowing you to exercise longer than you would on land. It’s also super relaxing and helps cool and refresh the body with the water alone.
Yoga
Yoga is renowned for its ability to generate a balanced mental state through its slow movement, rhythmic breathing, and mindfulness. When your energy is low, performing a simple yoga routine can help provide countless therapeutic effects.
Gentle bending movements like upward facing dog, bridge, and extended mountain can help open your spine and loosen tight chest muscles. This, in turn, encourages deep breathing and open postures, which improve your physical energy and mental alertness.
Pilates
Like yoga, pilates also promotes proper breathing, strengthening the core muscles, and correcting posture to enhance the level of oxygen circulating around the body – helping invigorate the mind, brain and body.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a low-impact exercise that involves performing slow, circular movements, making it an excellent way to move when energy is low.
As you move through a Tai Chi, you use deep breaths in and out and focus on your body sensations. The movements don’t extend or bend joints and use relaxed muscles rather than tightened ones like you would in more high-intensity workouts. The perfect pace for when your energy is on the low end.
Cycling
Another way to improve your energy is hopping on a bike and going for a light cycle.
Cycling is an aerobic exercise that helps improve posture, lower blood pressure, and leaves you feeling energised.
Conclusion
When you’re feeling tired, the last thing you might think about doing is getting up and moving. But it can actually do you a whole lot of good – putting a pep back in your step and helping you tackle the rest of the day with energy instead of exhaustion.