Dehydration can make you feel sluggish and light-headed, so take a refillable water bottle with you and refill your glass often when at home.

Eat in the kitchen or away from your desk. Take regular breaks and look for true hunger signs, like stomach twinges or growling noises. A short walk in the fresh air will help your concentration and allow you to feel more relaxed and alert. For more healthy eating tips, check out Canada's Food Guide!

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.

Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

Skip to main Skip to footer. Campus Wellness. Campus Wellness home About Campus Wellness COVID Vaccine Centre Health Services Student Medical Clinic Family Health Clinic Nutrition Services Nutrition articles FAQs Reliable nutrition and health websites Travel Clinic Campus Response Team Counselling Services Health Promotion Partnership with IMPACT News Events Wellness Topics and Information.

Faculty and Staff Indigenous Student Resources Parents and Supporters Students. Campus Wellness Health Services Nutrition Services Nutrition articles. Eat breakfast After a 12 or 14 hour fast, your body needs food in order to function at its best.

Try one of these 5-minute meal ideas, choosing whole grains whenever possible: Whole grain cereal, milk, OJ Bagel with peanut butter, banana Instant oatmeal with raisins and milk Toaster waffle with frozen berries, yogurt Bran muffin, piece of cheese, grapes High fibre cereal bar, chocolate milk, apple English muffin with cheese and tomato Re-fuel every hours Students who eat at regular intervals avoid energy slumps and the extreme hunger that can lead to binge eating.

Plan balanced snacks Although a handful of gummy bears may satisfy you for a few minutes, a quick sugar fix provides little brain fuel and is likely to leave you feeling more sluggish.

Campus wellness. University of Waterloo. Waterloo , ON , Canada N2L 3G1. A lack of essential nutrients and minerals in your diet can also contribute to less-than-stellar energy levels, Dr.

Saunders notes. This nutrient shortfall can come as a result from eating too many highly processed foods, he says.

Not getting enough calories on a daily basis can also contribute, Bannan adds. The internal and external expectations from society are a heavy load to carry, Bannan says—and a lack of time for your own self-care can make you feel exhausted.

Alcohol is a sedative , and drinking wine, beer, or hard liquor can rob you of your energy. Considering the fact that seven in 10 Americans drink coffee every week per the National Coffee Association , many of us think of turning to caffeine as the first and best way to increase energy levels.

Caffeine can work in the short term at low to moderate doses about 4—25 fluid ounces of regular brewed coffee per day, or about half a cup to three cups to increase your alertness. But at higher levels, caffeine may lead to insomnia, feelings of restlessness or anxiety, and a spiked heart rate, according to Harvard T.

Chan School of Public Health. Plus, this is like putting a bandage on the situation with a temporary fix—rather than a long-term solution. Instead of sipping on cup after cup of coffee day in and day out, consider trying one of these expert-approved energy boosters:.

This is easier said than done, Dr. Li admits, but seven to nine hours of snoozing a night is crucial for optimal bodily function.

Sleep is when our body recovers from the day , consolidates memories, produces energy, stabilizes our mood, enhances our immune system, prevents injuries, and beyond, Dr.

Saunders explains. Too much sleep makes you feel lethargic. So skip the late-in-the-day naps and instead, try to create a soothing bedroom environment and aim to consistently fall asleep and rise at the same time.

Avoiding big meals, alcohol, and bright screens close to bedtime can also help you rest easier. Reaching out to supportive friends can help you tame the intensity of feelings that drain energy, including pain, sadness, and anger, Bannan says.

An IRL catch-up is most effective, but a text or call works too, she adds. Focus on fueling your body with enough high-quality fare. Prioritize whole plant-based foods, including nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

These all provide the essential building blocks necessary for energy production, help lower chronic inflammation levels, and stoke the body with energy-supporting polyphenols, Dr.

Saunders and Dr. Li agree. Excess amounts of added sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and starches are common energy offenders, Bannan says. Exercise does require energy, and it can feel draining at first, Bannan says. Cycling, walking, yoga, hiking, or whatever movement you prefer all count.

The best workouts are the ones you actually enjoy doing. Li swears by going for a minute walk every day to stimulate blood flow and hormones that invigorate muscles and activate his brain in ways that provide more energy.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tran is a big fan of resistance training. Dehydration is one of the more subtle causes of fatigue, Dr. Li says. Stress is a major source of fatigue for modern-day adults, Dr.

Tran continues. This often is related to feeling overloaded by professional, family, or social obligations. It's often challenging to tell if adding one or more of the energy boosters above will move the needle, Dr. Saunders admits. Our natural inclination tends to lean towards the belief that more is better—rather than taking time to rest say, with a power nap or short meditation session.

Some include:. Feeling physical pain. Persistent fatigue. Frequently getting sick. Emotional exhaustion. Poor quality of sleep even after trying to improve it. Tran says. If adjustments are required, your care team can help customize a diet and exercise plan that suits your lifestyle, which Dr.

Low energy levels can throw a wrench in your best-laid plans for an active, focused, productive, and rewarding day. By keeping the most common causes of low energy top of mind, you can choose the best energy boosters to help you recharge and feel ready to tackle the day ahead.

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.

Seek the advice of your physician for questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Exercise helps your cells burn energy and circulate more oxygen in your blood, making you more alert. The dopamine release not only elevates your mood but improves movement, memory and focus.

Stay hydrated. Among the first signs of dehydration are fatigue and feeling lethargic. Limit alcohol. It may make you sleepy initially, but alcohol is a major sleep disrupter. It also limits the amount of REM and deep sleep. Reduce stress. Anxiety, fear and anger spike cortisol levels, creating inflammation and consuming a massive amount of energy.

Seeing a therapist to work through anxiety and anger can have major benefits. Meditation, hypnosis and yoga are effective in cutting stress. Cut unhealthy carbs. Processed foods high in carbohydrates can leave you feeling tired. Simple carbs — found in sugar and starchy, processed foods, provide a quick boost but are immediately followed by a crash from rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar levels.

Consider a vitamin B supplement. B12 supports energy production and maintains blood cell health. Take a nap. Research by the National Institute of Mental Health found afternoon naps improved cognitive function, especially alertness.

Go for a walk. If you feel sluggish, get up and move, especially after a meal. However, it is currently unclear whether taking melatonin supplements can help reduce fatigue for people with these conditions Melatonin supplements appear to be safe.

Melatonin is an important hormone that plays a role in sleep. Supplementing with melatonin may be an effective way to alleviate insomnia, resulting in improved alertness and decreased fatigue.

CoQ10, which stands for coenzyme Q10, is made naturally in the body. CoQ10 comes in a few forms, including ubiquinone and ubiquinol. All cells contain CoQ10, although the heart, kidneys and liver have the highest levels. Cells use CoQ10 to make energy and protect themselves from oxidative damage 12 , Fish, meat and nuts contain CoQ10, but not in large enough amounts to significantly increase levels in your body Therefore, CoQ10 supplements may be a better solution for reducing fatigue in people who have declining or low levels.

CoQ10 levels decrease with age and may be low in people with heart failure, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes or in people who take statins, a class of medications used to lower blood cholesterol levels 16 , 17 , 18 , However, CoQ10 supplements are unlikely to increase energy in people with adequate levels of the enzyme Additionally, studies in both humans and animals suggest that CoQ10 supplements are safe in appropriate doses Studies show that one of several forms of CoQ10, known as ubiquinol, is more efficient at improving the levels of CoQ10 in older men Aging, certain diseases and statin treatment are associated with low levels of CoQ10, which may increase feelings of fatigue.

CoQ10 supplements may help correct this. Creatine is a compound that is naturally found in red meat, pork, poultry and fish. It acts as a source of quick energy in your body. Adenosine triphosphate ATP is the energy currency of life. When your body uses ATP for energy, it loses a phosphate group and becomes adenosine diphosphate.

Therefore, when your body needs a quick source of energy, creatine lends its phosphate to ADP and becomes ATP. This translates to a pound increase in weight for someone who can bench pounds 91 kg just from taking creatine In another review, older adults who took creatine gained 3.

This increased energy allows you to train harder and longer. Citrulline works to increase nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide acts as a vasodilator, causing the inner muscles of blood vessels to widen and thus increasing circulation.

This allows blood, oxygen and nutrients to travel to all areas of the body. But when the ability to produce nitric oxide is limited, physical weakness and lack of energy may occur 41 , Citrulline also plays a role in the urea cycle, helping to eliminate ammonia from the body. Ammonia production is a major contributor to fatigue that is triggered by intense exercise.

Therefore, citrulline can decrease fatigue associated with intense exercise, allowing you to exercise longer 45 , In one study, people who took citrulline finished a cycling test 1. The citrulline group also reported less fatigue and quicker recovery The safety of citrulline is also well established, even in large doses This can help decrease fatigue and plays a role in energy production.

Beetroot powder is made from the beetroot vegetable and contains a high amount of nitrate Similar to L-citrulline, nitrate produces nitric oxide in the body, which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow and oxygen delivery. Several study analyses suggest that supplementing with beetroot increases the amount of time it takes for athletes to get tired during exercise 51 , 52 , This is because the nitrate found in beetroot decreases the amount of oxygen required to exercise at various intensities.

The less oxygen you need to exercise, the less tired you will feel and the longer you will be able to exercise. Additionally, because nitrate increases nitric oxide production in your body, supplementing with beetroot may also decrease high blood pressure 55 , 56 , 57 , However, while harmless, the color pigments in beetroot may stain your urine or stool red Beetroot contains a compound called nitrate, which relaxes your blood vessels.

When used as a supplement, beetroot can increase oxygen delivery throughout your body, allowing you to exercise longer. Tyrosine is an amino acid that is naturally produced by your body. It is found in most high-protein foods, including chicken, eggs and dairy products.

Tyrosine is important for producing neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit messages in your brain. These neurotransmitters are thought to decline with mentally and physically demanding activities, which can negatively affect concentration and energy levels In many studies, tyrosine supplements have been found to help increase alertness and energy levels.

They may also help restore memory and clarity in sleep-deprived people 70 , 71 , Currently, research suggests tyrosine is only beneficial for people who have low stores of neurotransmitters due to stressful or cognitively demanding situations Additionally, supplementing with tyrosine has been proven to be safe Supplementing with tyrosine may help restore levels of neurotransmitters in your body, thereby helping improve mental cognition and energy levels.

Caffeine is commonly consumed for its energy-boosting properties in the form of coffee, tea, cocoa beverages, energy drinks and sodas However, many people limit or completely avoid caffeine because it can lead to irritability, nervousness, restlessness and a crash after its initial energy boost But combining L-theanine with caffeine as a supplement may be an easy way to prevent these side effects.

L-theanine is an amino acid found naturally in tea and some mushrooms. It is thought to promote relaxation without increasing drowsiness In several studies, the combination of caffeine and L-theanine has been shown to improve memory and reaction time plus decrease tiredness and mental fatigue 77 , 78 , 79 , Collectively, these results suggest that adding L-theanine can help you get the same energy-boosting benefits from caffeine without the unwanted side effects This is equivalent to 3—5 cups of coffee 76 , 81 , Combining caffeine with L-theanine is an effective way to improve your energy levels while reducing the negative side effects and jitters.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to maintain your energy, including consuming a balanced diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.

When this is the case, there are many supplements and vitamins that may help boost your energy when you need it most. Some work better for increasing energy during exercise, while others may be best when you need a quick pick-me-up.

Furthermore, all the supplements on this list have a well-established safety profile when used appropriately. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. While they're not typically able to prescribe, nutritionists can still benefits your overall health.

Let's look at benefits, limitations, and more. A new study found that healthy lifestyle choices — including being physically active, eating well, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption —…. Carb counting is complicated. Take the quiz and test your knowledge! Together with her husband, Kansas City Chiefs MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mohomes shares how she parents two children with severe food….

While there are many FDA-approved emulsifiers, European associations have marked them as being of possible concern. Let's look deeper:. Researchers have found that a daily multivitamin supplement was linked with slowed cognitive aging and improved memory.

Dietitians can help you create a more balanced diet or a specialized one for a variety of conditions. We look at their benefits and limitations. Liquid collagen supplements might be able to reduce some effects of aging, but research is ongoing and and there may be side effects.

Protein powders are popular supplements that come from a variety of animal- and plant-based sources.