If you’re coming out of the long winter full of aches and pains, you’re not alone. During the colder months, our activity level often decreases, leading to tense muscles, exacerbated back pain and tech neck.
Cold and rainy weather is known for making chronic pain feel worse and seems to contribute to flare ups… if you would like to know more, you can read our blog post, ‘Do Weather Changes Make Back Pain Worse?’
But now that the clocks have sprung forward, it’s time to get energised. Read on for our favourite tips on how to increase your energy levels naturally for the summer ahead.
- Don’t rely on energy drinks or caffeine. When used too often, energy drinks and caffeine actually make tiredness worse, as they spike blood sugar levels and cause heavier ‘crash’ when energy levels naturally decrease, which can make you feel nauseous and sluggish. Drinking water instead is great for concentration and relieves muscle tension.
- Make time to exercise. This is a great way to improve mental clarity and get rid of that ‘post-winter’ feeling. Exercise can actually increase your energy levels and brain activity and may even help support your immune system function.
- Don’t forget about your gut health. Your gut health can affect your energy levels and a compromised microbiome (good gut bugs) can lead to fatigue and feeling unwell. Your digestion is linked to your mood, the quality of your sleep and inflammation in the body. To make sure your gut microbiome is functioning as well as it can, eat a diverse range of non-processed food, keep stress to a minimum and incorporate probiotics into your diet, like yoghurt, kimchi and miso.
- Set your sleep schedule. Your body runs on daily cycles called circadian rhythms, and these 24-hour cycles are part of your internal clock. Prioritising your sleep and going to bed and getting up around the same time each day helps maintain those cycles. Good sleep tips include:
- Sticking to a sleep schedule.
- Exercise is great, but not too late in the day.
- Avoid caffeine and nicotine especially from late afternoon.
- Avoid alcoholic drinks before bed.
- Avoid large meals and beverages late at night.
- Set the bedroom temperature to no higher than 18 or 19 degrees (as advised by Matthew Walker in the 2017 book Why We Sleep).
If you want to get rid of the winter aches and pains, book in for an appointment with us for your personalised treatment plan. We’re always happy to help you.