Great Everyday “Perk-Me-Up” Tips To Hype Your Workday

Too tired to work and it’s not yet even the middle of the day? Don’t worry, you’re not an isolated case. Most of us are stuck inside the office working our butts off for five days a week. The days are long, the hours are filled with stressful little things, and we barely couldn’t find time to check out what’s new with our friends over at Twitter and Facebook. Then again, maybe we just feel too burdened and all we need are some energy boosters to perk us up for the workload. So go ahead and push that refresh button! There’s nothing like a simple activity to prep you back to fighting form.

Take a breather. Take deep breaths and let them out slowly. Lean back in your chair, stretch your legs and rotate your ankles for a few seconds. Stand up and do a little stretching with your neck, back and arms, as well as your legs. This will help ensure good circulation through your body especially on your lower extremities.

Have a light healthy snack. If you feel you want to grab a bite to alleviate the stress, think twice before reaching for that doughnut. Sure it would give you a sugar rush, but the energy boost it gives is always short-lived. This means you’re back to square one after the fuel’s run out. Instead of treats with empty calories, try munching on peanut butter on whole-grain crackers, a granola bar, or pieces of fruit or veggies. A small bowl of nonfat yogurt and assorted berries and nuts or even just a frozen berry smoothie would be great, too. Still looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth? Opt for a few squares of dark chocolate. It has more caffeine than the regular milk chocolate and would give you a slight energy and mental boost.

Hit the water cooler! No, don’t wreck the thing. Take a break from your work and travel the short distance to the water cooler. But take your time in doing so. Go ahead and chat with some of your colleagues on your way there (just don’t take too long). You would be doing your sore muscles a favor and practising your socializing skills as well!

Drink up. If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, go easy on them. Caffeine’s energy and mental boosts are temporary so it would be better to regulate the amount you take the whole day. Opt for frequent small servings over a single dose; it would keep you more alert and focused for most of the day. Also, avoid energy drinks as much as possible. Most of them are just high in sugar and empty calories. But since you’ve made it as far as the water cooler, have a drink: specifically a glassful of water. Nothing could beat the energy out of you without you knowing it like dehydration does. It’s something that many employees suffer from and you need not be one of them. Set a goal to drink at least eight (8) glasses of water a day. It would help regulate your metabolism and keep your fatigue levels at bay, too. (Note: It does make you frequent the rest rooms more, but consider it as just another light body workout to stimulate your energy levels!)

Clear the clutter. There’s nothing more annoying to the eyes than a cluttered workspace. Take a few minutes off and clean up your desk and rearrange the things on it. The “distraction” from cleaning out your drawers is worth it when you settle back into a cleaner and organized desk that is relaxing to the eyes.

Tune up! Detach yourself from your load for five minutes, plug in your earphones, lean back and relax. Listen to one or two of your favorite tracks and savor the music. Bob your head and tap your feet — even sing along to the music! If your office allows some low-volume music, kick it up a notch by sharing a song most of your mates know, too. The relaxing beat of good music is contagious and would give you all a terrific perk!

Now a good read’s nothing if not applied in real life. Try them on for size and tell me what you think!

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Got any “Perk-Me-Up” tips that worked for you? Share them with us by leaving a comment!

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For more personal “Perk-Me-Up” guides, go ahead and ask Yvonne!