page 1 - Mature Living in the Southeast

health newsHow to EffectivelyIncrease Energy LevelsThe work week can truly be exhausting. By the time Fridayarrives, the taxing nature of work can really take its toll.Oftentimes, that tollmanifests itself in anumber of ways.Whether you groweasily aggravated orsimply struggle tomaintain your energyas the week wears on,chances are you feelsomewhat deflated bythe end of the workweek.While it mightseem as though youneed to make somedrastic changes in orderto recoup youronce vibrant energy,for most people that'snot the case at all. Infact, several easy toinstill lifestylechanges can help youregain your energylevels and head intothe weekend rejuvenatedinstead of putthrough the ringer.• Turn the lightsand television offwhen you sleep.Keeping the lights onor falling asleep to thetelevision interruptsquality sleep, whether you know it or not. Lights on whilesleeping hinders melatonin secretion, essentially throwingyour body off track and forcing it to reset. This can negativelyimpact your energy levels when it comes time to getout of bed. In addition to turning the lights and television off,SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS USING THE TREADMILLFOR 20 MINUTES PER DAY CAN HELP TODRASTICALLY INCREASE ENERGY LEVELS, PAYINGDIVIDENDS AT THE END OF THE WEEK.try and make your bedroom as dark as possible when you goto sleep. This will encourage a sounder sleep and could helpincrease energy levels as a result.• Don't eat big meals at night. The digestivesystem is most active during thedaytime, which enables the body to usefood for energy much more effectively.If you're going to be eating a large meal,it's best to do so during the daytime. Whenyou eat a big meal at night, the digestivesystem is slowing down at that point andit is much more difficult to digest foodand convert it to energy.• Stretch regularly. Even if you're notan exercise enthusiast, stretching can bebeneficial to your energy levels. That's becausestretching helps to maintain bloodflow by reducing clogging of the arteries.The more freely blood flows, the moreenergy you're likely to have.• Emphasize cardiovascular activitiesand exercise. Many people aren't fond ofgoing to the gym. However, achieving optimalfitness doesn't have to involve a gymmembership. Cardiovascular exercise,which can include walking, jogging, usingthe treadmill, etc., helps to lowerblood pressure, decrease body fat and reducecholesterol among other benefits.Each of those things can do wonders foryour energy levels. While you might initiallystruggle to muster up the energy toinclude regular cardiovascular exercise inyour daily routine, once you begin you'llfind it gets easier as you go. That's because it's working, increasingyour energy levels.In addition, spending some time away from home or workwhile you walk, jog or even use the treadmill can prove avaluable source of relieving stress.60Mature Living Winter Edition