Energy is one of the biggest influences on our day – when we’re feeling high in energy, we can often have a better day than days we’re lacking in energy. But sometimes, you have to have a productive day for work or school even when you’re feeling low in energy.
For those days when you have to be productive but you’re low in energy, having the motivation to keep on top of your to-do list can be difficult. You may find yourself procrastinating and avoiding tasks you know you need to get done because it’s difficult to find the energy to jump in. If you’re struggling to get started, here are our tips for staying productive on a low energy day.
Allow yourself a slow, relaxing start to the day
Rushing around will only help your energy levels deplete faster. If you jump out of bed and start rushing around, you’ll run out of energy before midday. When you wake up and feel drained, allowing yourself a slow start to the day can help maintain those energy levels throughout the day.
Rather than rushing to your normal morning routine, take it slow to help reduce burnout. Take the time to do your skincare routine with care, have a lazy breakfast, read your book or start with an easy exercise routine to have a relaxed but productive morning. If you can plan this the night before, it’s even easier to get the day started.
Stay hydrated throughout the day
Keeping on top of your water intake is essential if you’re feeling low in energy. When we’re dehydrated, we can feel more tired and tasks feel much more difficult.
Keep a water bottle on your desk for easy hydration on those low energy days. If you find it difficult to keep on top of your water intake, try eating fruits and vegetables with a high water count such as watermelons, cucumbers or tomatoes to stay hydrated in an easier way. Try to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day to stay hydrated.
Give your daily tasks a timeline
Staying on track with projects and deadlines can be harder when we’re low in energy and it’s easy to let things slip. Our brains can feel more sluggish and difficult to start working, especially if we have a big project to work on.
Try and create a to-do list with timelines and due dates. Setting yourself a due date can be the push you need to break through procrastination and get productive. It’s important to make these realistic – don’t try and achieve your entire to-do list in one challenging day. Achieve what you can realistically in one day and set a timeline for the rest of your chores.
Eat healthy, balanced meals
If you’re low in energy, it may be that you’ve not been eating enough or you’ve been eating an unhealthy diet. Our energy comes from the food that we eat so when we’re struggling and we’re tired, it could be simply not eating well enough.
A healthy, balanced diet can help us produce more energy to power us through our day. Try to eat three balanced meals with healthy snacks in between to help give your energy levels a boost. Make your meals and snacks healthy but tasty so you’re more likely to enjoy the food you’re eating!
Be kind to yourself
When we’re feeling unproductive and low energy, it’s easy to fall into a negative mindset. If you’re finding it difficult to get things done, it’s easy to get frustrated and take it out on yourself.
You may find yourself talking negatively to yourself, getting angry or being upset. On our low energy days, it’s more important than ever to try and treat yourself with kindness and grace. Try taking some deep breaths and saying something kind to yourself to reset your mindset. Everyone has difficult days – nobody expects you to be perfect!
Get outside for some fresh air and exercise
Fresh air and the great outdoors can be invigorating to our souls and help us replenish our energy levels on more difficult days. Open your windows, go for a walk on your lunch break or work from your garden to invite fresh air and hopefully sunshine into your day.
Exercise also produces endorphins so get your body moving! But make sure you stick to exercise you enjoy – on a low energy day, motivating yourself can be more difficult so make it fun. Do a dance workout, exercise with a friend or choose a low intensity exercise like yoga or meditation to get the most out of your workout.
Make your goals realistic
Whatever you want to achieve on a low energy day, make sure it’s realistic. You will only feel worse if you set goals you are unable to achieve by the end of the day. Try sticking to realistic, achievable goals you can work towards throughout your day – whether that’s finishing a work job, cleaning your kitchen or just making it through the day!
We all have low energy days and sometimes, they’re a write-off – but if you need to get things done, take it steadily and be kind to yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint and treating low-energy days with caution can help reduce burnout, lower stress levels and boost mental wellbeing.
Managing your energy is so important to keep on top of burnout and reducing stress levels. The Tonic topic of the month is energy and over on the Tonic and Me app, we’ve covered all of our advice on how to manage your energy levels, how to boost your energy and much more. If you’re not on our app, click here to find out more.
If you’re looking to boost the energy levels in your office, our team can help. We offer health and wellbeing services designed to keep your employees feeling their best both at work and at home. Our services are available in-person or virtually to suit you. Get in touch to find out more.
