How to Have All-Day Energy so You Can Stay Productive and Face Any Challenge
Why is energy so important? Having high energy is essential to aspiring and current professional cheerleaders because it allows them to solve problems, learn new skills, focus during rehearsals, and give their best performance in the arena.
If you find yourself often exhausted or easily tired, there must be some things in your daily routine that need changing. Maybe it's the way you handle stress. Perhaps it's the foods you eat.
In today's blog post, I'm going to share six strategies that will help enhance your energy levels. Let's dive in.
1. Control your emotions in any situation.
Do others' remarks or stressful situations make you feel very emotional? Negative emotions, when they're triggered, can easily get out of control. Negativity drains your energy. Learn to gain rationality over anything. One thing you can do is to avoid reacting right away. Force negative thoughts out of your mind and replace them with something different and positive. Lastly, see the bigger picture.
>>Read: A Pro Cheerleader's Guide to Dealing with Stress
2. Work in 90-minute intervals.
Do you know the "90-minute cycle" technique? It's based on the research that the brain can only focus for 90 minutes at a time. So whether you work from home or at the office, work in 90-minute bursts and take a break for 20-30 minutes. Doing this will ensure an energy boost. You can also use the same technique when preparing for pro cheer auditions at home. For example, dedicate 90 minutes for researching the squad and just focus on that.
3. Make a healthy breakfast.
Start your morning on the right foot by preparing a clean and healthy breakfast. Choose foods that don't raise your blood sugar right away -- preferably foods that contain little to no carbohydrates. Examples are eggs, avocados, chia seed pudding (use almond milk), nuts, and meat. While cereal is the most convenient option, it is often loaded with sugar. Sugar slows your blood circulation, making you feel sluggish.
>>Read: 6 Tasty Superfood Smoothies to Jumpstart Your Day
4. Limit drinking alcohol.
One of the habits you need to stop when you're getting ready for auditions is to reduce your intake of alcohol. Alcohol gets absorbed in your bloodstream within 20 minutes. It makes you feel tired by preventing you from achieving a restful sleep at night. So the next time you think of drinking alcohol at dinner to be able to calm your nerves, remember its after-effect.
5. Nothing beats water.
The only drink that's proven to prevent dehydration and keep your energy up all day is water. You don't have to obsess over the "8 glasses a day rule." What's essential is that you make sure to drink water throughout the day. Take a bottle with you to the gym, work, school, or rehearsal. Spice it up by adding a few slices of cucumber or lemon to your water. This will give you health-boosting and energy-boosting vitamins and minerals.
6. Do something interesting!
When you're feeling bored or restless, it can be that you've been stuck with the same routine. A small change can make a big difference. Infuse an interesting activity in your day. Wear an outfit you really like. Take your camera with you and take random snapshots of anything that captures your eye. Rearrange the furniture on your desk. Say a kind word to or compliment a cheer sister! Write down a major lesson you think the day taught you. Cook something different, healthy, and yummy.
See yourself cheering for the pros?
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