Happiness Project: July – Energy

A new month, a new item to tackle for my Happiness Project! As a reminder (to myself!), May’s focus was on Diet. Unfortunately, our month on the road negated most of what I had gained (or lost) during May. Thus July is going to be a dual focus — getting back to where I was in May and then also tackling July’s “Energy” resolutions.

July might not be the greatest time to tackle this resolution. Though the days are longer, giving me more energy, it is also very hot and muggy, which saps it away quite early in the day. In addition, I’m exhausted from our month-plus long camping/roadtrip. But, then again, maybe this is the ideal time to work on figuring out how to up my energy levels. back in January, I posted a link to a list (55 Ways to Get More Energy). I’ve spent time reviewing the list and pulling out the pieces that I think will help and that fit best with this month’s focus.

At the moment, my “Energy” list includes:

• Adequate sleep. I generally get enough sleep. But sometimes, stress and too much caffeine keep me awake during the late hours. The only thing I can think of, other than cutting out afternoon caffeine (which I’ve already done), is to let myself sleep in a little or take the time for an afternoon nap when I’m feeling sleep deprived.
• Food: The list suggests a big breakfast and a small lunch as well as an afternoon snack. Since berries and yogurt are also recommended, I’m going to try to make a mid-afternoon smoothie with plain yogurt and berries into a daily occurrence.
• Drinks: Most of these are continuations of May’s resolutions. Continue making sure I drink enough water, limiting my intake of coffee and alcohol, avoiding diet sodas. The list suggests some black tea might be good. I need to look into that a bit more.
• Supplements: This is something I know nothing about. I’m going to make sure to take my vitamin every single day, in hopes of keeping my iron levels from plummeting. The list suggests taking ginseng.
• Exercise: Though exercise will eventually have a month devoted to it, there’s no sense in waiting to get back into it. As the summer is so hot, I’ll either need to get out and walk early in the morning or walk on the treadmill. I also want to try to get in some simple yoga and get back to a monthly massage to help avoid the sciatica that prevents me from doing any exercise at all.
• Environment: I know that a messy house is a hugh energy drain on me. But I also think that having music that I like playing and happy smells work to give me more energy.

Each week, I’ll tackle one of these sub-topics, adding it to the ones I’ve already been working on. Hopefully as each becomes a habit, it won’t need as much focused energy. This week. I’ll work on the sleep, food and drink areas, since they are ones I’ve been working on anyway.

Anyone have any great smoothie recipes or suggestions for black tea that is not caffeinated and won’t dehydrate me?

(A friend brought over these fresh picked blueberries … how did she know that’s exactly what I needed to kickstart this project?? Thanks!)