By Nicole
Bandes
It doesn't matter if you
are a corporate executive, employee, a work-at-home mom or a stay-at-home
mom because we all have times in our lives when we just feel physically
"burned out." Some of us feel that way so often that
we begin to think it is normal.
The good news: it isn't.
Not only is it not normal, but it can be successfully handled.
Here are some suggestions on how to beat the "burned out
blues."
1. Get adequate sleep
Determine how much sleep your body really needs by giving yourself
15 extra minutes of sleep each night until you don't feel as groggy
during the day. Once you have determined the amount you need,
stick to it.
Go to bed and get up at
the same time, even on the weekends. When you get adequate sleep,
you don't constantly feel fatigued.
2. Exercise
Think you don't have time to exercise?
You don't have time not to. Challenge yourself to walk at least
30 minutes, four out of seven days, for two weeks. At the end
of those two weeks, you'll be getting more accomplished than when
you didn't exercise.
Exercise makes you feel
more alert and alive, allowing you to get more done in less time.
So go ahead, exercise! Time isn't an excuse anymore.
3. Eat less processed
carbohydrates
When you eat enough protein throughout
the day, starting with breakfast, your blood sugar doesn't spike
and dip like it does when you eat mostly breads, rice and carbohydrate
junk food. Without the blood sugar ups and downs, you won't get
as fatigued during the day.
Protein should accompany
every meal. If you need a great afternoon pick-me-up, try an apple
with peanut butter.
4. No more caffeine!
I can't stress this enough; consuming
caffeine leads to a vicious cycle. You drink it to get more energy,
and it gets the energy by putting a strain on your adrenal glands.
You feel tired because your adrenals are worn out, so you drink
more caffeine.
5. Support your
adrenals
Your adrenal glands support your stress
responses. When you experience stress, whether physical or emotional,
your adrenal glands produce hormones to combat the changes your
body experiences during these times of stress.
When you're under stress
for extended periods of time, your adrenals can't continue to
produce the hormones at the same pace and begin to shut down,
thus causing more physical "burn out."
There are many good herbal
sources for the adrenals. Find a company that promotes the quality
of their products and produces formulations focusing on adrenal
support.
You don't have to constantly
feel fatigued. You can feel more alive and refreshed when you
wake up, and more energized throughout the day. Make a few simple
lifestyle changes and you will become a much happier, more productive
person.
Nicole Bandes is a trained Herb Specialist,
Star manager with Nature's Sunshine Products and, most importantly,
a mom. She practices what she preaches and is a walking testimony
to the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. She owns and
operates Naturally Herbs at www.naturallyherbs.com
