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This post includes ten ways to naturally have better energy, including supplements, habits, and foods that can help.
Note: this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for recommendations related to your individual situation.
Natural Energy
Imagine this. You wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and excited about what you have planned for the day. You go about your morning activities feeling energetic and fulfilled. As you move into the afternoon and evening, you start to slow down, but not so much that you can’t make a nice dinner for your family or friends and enjoy spending time together. When it’s time for bed, you melt into sleep effortlessly and without worry.
Wouldn’t be that nice?!
The truth is that this is how we are meant and deserve to live, but our modern lifestyles create so much stress and illness that most of us aren’t enjoying energetic and full days. I’ve been there. I spent so many years living with undiagnosed autoimmune disease that I can’t tell you how many hours (years) were lost. I’m grateful that I’ve gotten my life back and that I can work towards my goals with joy and vibrancy. You can read more about my story here.
No matter what you’re dealing with, whether it’s chronic illness or something else, I hope this post offers some holistic and natural ways to have more energy. Life is too short to be spent feeling crappy and miserable.
Be sure to always check with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet or supplement routine.
10 Tips
1. Eat a Real Food Diet to Prevent Nutrient Deficiencies
In 2017, a report was published showing that more than half of the foods eaten in the American diet are ultra-processed foods. That means that the foods are low in nutrients, but high in oils and refined sugars.
In contrast, real foods are ones that are minimally processed or are just in their pure, whole form. Think: fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds, meats, fish, and poultry. A real food diet can work wonders for energy levels because the fiber helps prevent blood sugar swings and real foods are rich in vitamins and minerals that fuel our bodies. Real food = energy!
2. Work on Sleep Hygiene
Sleep hygiene refers to all of the activities that we do in preparation for sleeping well. This can include everything from not eating or exercising too close to bedtime to having a consistent bedtime.
It might sound so common sense to even mention it, but sleeping well means that you’ll have more energy. In fact, the most common cause of fatigue is not sleeping well.
If you can refreshing, consistent sleep most of the time, you will have a lot more energy. Read my full article with tips for how to sleep better.
3. Eat More Protein
A balanced diet means getting enough of the macronutrients, including carbs, fat, and protein. If you’re following a super strict diet like a keto diet or a vegan diet, your macronutrients might be out of balance and that might lead to fatigue. A paleo diet or a clean eating diet is probably the best blueprint for a healthy way of eating that is sustainable for the long term.
It’s one thing if your doctor is supervising a restricted diet for medical purposes, but it’s another thing if you’re following a diet just because it’s trendy. If you don’t have energy while you’re on a diet, then that’s a sign it’s probably not working for you.
You can read my articles on the risks of a ketogenic diet and dangers of a vegan diet with solid reasons why super-restrictive diets can cause more harm than good.
The bottom line is that eating more protein can increase energy for several reasons. Protein is an energy source, but it also gets metabolized more slowly than carbohydrates. It’s satiating and helps keep blood sugar stable.
4. Address Chronic Pain or Infections
So many people live in chronic pain or infections. I only learned in the past few years that I had high levels of Epstein-Barr virus in my system (you can read more in my article about reasons why you might always feel tired). This is the virus that can cause chronic fatigue syndrome. If you suspect you might have a chronic infection, it’s best to see a functional medicine practitioner who can do the appropriate lab testing.
5. Optimize Your Thyroid
Hypothyroidism, or having low thyroid, is now an epidemic in our country. Thyroid issues can be genetic or can be caused by stress or environmental toxins. There’s no shame in taking supplemental thyroid hormone as long as you can get the lab testing to manage it. Don’t let your doctor just test your TSH; you need to get the full thyroid panel to get an accurate diagnosis.
Dr. Amy Myers has a great article with the thyroid lab reference ranges she recommends. You won’t believe how better you’ll feel once you get your thyroid up to the right level. It can make all the difference with energy, not to mention weight management and mood.
6. Reverse Anemia
Anemia, or having low iron stores, is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. If you’re a pre-menopausal woman having regular periods, you are at high risk of anemia. You might not even have diagnosable anemia, but even just low iron stores (as measured by blood ferritin), can lead to fatigue.
Low iron stores can also cause the thyroid to underperform which can also lead to feeling tired.
I wrote about anemia and how to test and reverse it in this post about supplements for women in our 30s. Other ways to raise iron levels include using cast iron cookware, consuming vitamin C-rich foods with iron-rich foods to increase absorption, and eating red meat. Learn more about the lab tests I recommend for women and how you can order them at home.
7. Manage Stress
We’ve all heard how important it is to manage stress, but do you know why? Stress is a killer, literally! While some stress is healthy and natural, chronic stress will lead to lower energy levels and disease. Learning to manage stress might just be one of the best things you can ever do for your health.
There are lots of easy ways to get started lowering stress levels. Asking for help, cutting back on social media, getting outdoors, and talking to a friend are some ideas that come to mind. Even just sitting quietly for at least 5-10 minutes each day can lower blood pressure and improve stress resilience. Try it and see if you notice your energy increase.
8. Take Short Afternoon Naps
Sleep experts seem to agree that long naps over 60 minutes can be counter-productive, but that short, 20-30 minute naps can boost productivity. The exception might be if you are trying to recover from insomnia, then it’s better to avoid naps until you are sleeping through the night again.
For most people, though, taking a nap when you’re tired can be really beneficial in raising energy levels, especially during the afternoon. Humans aren’t meant to be “on” all the time, so give yourself a break, especially when during those times when you feel your body slowing down. When you get up, you should feel refreshed and energized.
9. Get Morning Light
During the winter months, people can suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or the winter blues. This type of depression can lead to low energy and just feeling blah. Getting early morning light, even in the form of a desktop LED daylight, is one proven way to feel better and boost energy levels.
I wrote more about this in my blog post with holistic ways to manage the winter blues. If you have depression, then you likely will be more tired, so getting that under control is important for many reasons, including having more energy.
10. Take Appropriate Supplements
During those times when we need a quick fix to increase energy, it can be tempting to eat sugar or drink caffeine. Those are not health-promoting or long-term strategies, though. I prefer a long-term strategy of healthy habits combined with supplements to boost any deficiencies. See my article on the best vitamins for women.
Supplements That Might Help
1. Sleep Support
If you’ve cleaned up your sleep routine but you still have trouble sleeping through the night, you’re not alone. Changing hormones, stress, and even diet can all impact how well we sleep. There are some natural, gentle supplements that can help.
Some of my favorite sleep support supplements include:
2. B Vitamins
B vitamins are so powerful and important for health. I’ve heard that some people can feel the energy benefits just 30 minutes after taking a good B vitamin. For that reason, it’s best to take them in the morning so they won’t impact your sleep.
Recommended brand:
3. Ashwagandha
Have you heard of ashwagandha? It’s an adaptogenic herb, meaning that it works with your needs. Ashwagandha is especially helpful for managing stress, but it can also help boost energy.
Recommended brand:
4. Rhodiola
Rhodiola is another adaptogenic herb that can help increase energy and boost mood. It’s not appropriate for anyone who has been diagnosed as bipolar, but it has research showing it helps depression.
Like with B Vitamins, it’s best to take Rhodiola early in the day so it doesn’t interfere with sleep.
Recommended brand:
5. Green Tea Extract
Green tea does have some caffeine, but it’s usually gentler than the caffeine in coffee or soda. Green tea also has antioxidants known as catechins, which have been shown to improve cholesterol levels.
Recommended brand:
6. Selenium
Selenium is a mineral that helps with the conversion of the inactive form of thyroid hormone to the active form. Research shows that many people would benefit from taking a selenium supplement which can then help reverse thyroid issues. Be sure to read the label and don’t take more than recommended unless otherwise indicated by your healthcare professional.
Recommended brand:
7. CoQ10
You can read more about CoQ10 in this article I did with supplements for women over 50. Most people would benefit from considering this supplement, but make sure you take the ubiquinol variety. It’s more expensive, but it’s the best kind.
Recommended brand:
FAQs
What can I take to increase energy and focus?
I don’t recommend taking supplements just to increase energy and focus because you are most likely going to end up using caffeine or something that will also increase your stress hormones. I would advise you to speak with your healthcare provider and to consider the long-term approaches outlined above.
What can I take for energy?
If you’re looking for a quick energy boost, a 20-minute nap is your best bet.
What are natural energy boosters?
Real food, short naps, light activity, and a healthy, balanced lifestyle is your best bet for natural energy.
Conclusions
I hope that you found some useful information from this article. If you’re feeling tired all of the time, then that means your body is asking you to make some changes. There are foods, habits, and supplements that can help you increase energy naturally.
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Mandy says
This was a really great & helpful post – I personally love having my supplements & mini naps in the day. Pinning this for future reads!
blair villanueva says
Very helpful post! Eating right and healthy and also having the full 7 to 8 hour sleep helps me to feel motivated and energetic to face the day!
Vanessa Palma says
I am a big fan of napping and supplements, but you also have some other great tips.
maribel says
Great tips! I’ll give them a try. Thanks Carrie, for sharing!
Joshua Howard says
Thank you for the post! It’s really helpful!