Do you feel tired during the working day even after you've had a full night's sleep? If so, then you’re not alone. It’s time to tackle the problem at its root cause and reclaim your energy once and for all.

By following the simple steps outlined below, you’ll get to the root of your low energy issues and ensure you are operating at your peak all day long.  

Restore your digestive health

Some simple ways to restore balance are to chew your food well to ensure breakdown and maximum absorption. Eat foods that are rich in good bacteria, such as natural yoghurt, sauerkraut, miso and kimchee, to give your digestive system a helping hand.  

You can also take probiotics, digestive enzyme supplements or add apple cider vinegar to water in the mornings.  

Drink more water

When dehydrated, the blood becomes thick and saturated and is unable to flow freely. This ultimately affects the transportation of oxygen throughout the body, which in turn impacts how mentally alert you can be.  

To prevent your skin from becoming dull and dry, and to flush out the toxins from your body, drink at least eight glasses (or 1.5 litres) of water a day.  

Cut the stress

Adrenal exhaustion may occur as a result of chronic stress. We often associate stress with big things like moving house, a loss in the family and financial pressure, but, in reality, stress comes from all areas of life.  

Struggling to get out of bed in the morning or having a problem with binge eating are both classic symptoms of stress.  

Struggling to get out of bed in the morning or having a problem with binge eating are both classic symptoms of stress.  

Often it’s our perception of events that can greatly affect our stress response. Developing positive attitudes can go a long way towards reducing stress and helping you gain more energy.  

Get enough sleep

To get eight hours of solid sleep, it’s best to turn the lights out by 10pm. Disturbed sleep results in tiredness, and the more tired we feel the more we tend to crave caffeine and starchy and sugary foods.  

Cut sugary foods from your diet

If you find yourself having trouble staying awake in the afternoon or concentrating on your work, you may have unstable blood sugar levels. Take a good look at what you’re eating of a morning because chances are you haven’t had enough to eat or have relied on too much sugar.  

Although sugar can easily satisfy cravings and re-energise you, that feeling diminishes quickly and leads you to reach for more sugary foods.  

Get moving

If you don’t like to exercise, it’s time to find something that you enjoy doing. Our muscles are packed with mitochondria – the energy powerhouses of our cells – so building lean muscles through exercise will help with energy production.  

Practice mindfulness


Often we can be in a state of stress without really knowing it. Adrenaline – one of the body’s stress hormones – can put us in a state of constant hyper-stimulation and can trigger feelings of anxiety and panic, making it difficult to maintain a relaxed composure.  

Calming practices, such as yoga, meditation and breathing exercises can calm the stress response, which in turn helps the flow of energy.  

This article is part of an ongoing Balance column, offering tips for juggling work and life while also managing your mental and physical wellbeing. Have something you’d like this column to cover? Email the Acuity team now.