If you are anything like me, you are tired all of the time. Some days, I feel like I have the same amount of energy that I had when my kids were newborns. After a recent visit from my doctor this summer encouraged me to decrease my caffeine intake, I needed to figure out a way to increase my energy naturally. Since I’ve been using them for the past month pretty regularly, I thought I’d share them!

1. Eat more iron. You could be tired because you are anemic. Even if you aren’t, increasing your dietary consumption of foods with iron should increase your energy levels. Some iron-rich foods are red meat, pork, poultry, seafood, beans, and dark leafy vegetables.
2. Get some sun. Until this time last year, I had never even heard of vitamin D deficiency. Since then, I’ve had to take supplements to do what a little bit of exposure could have done.It’s a medically proven fact that vitamin D deficiency can cause fatigue. While there are food sources for vitamin D (egg yolks, tuna, salmon, and cod liver oil), one of the best ways to decrease your fatigue this time of year is to spend a little more time in the sun.
3. Eat vegetables…in the morning. When I stopped drinking quite as much coffee. I started drinking green smoothies. They were able to boost my energy without sending me into energizer bunny overload. The best smoothies for me have yogurt, lettuce, spinach, kale, coconut water, and berries. Make sure you go heavier on the veggies, and lighter on the fruits.
4. Do simple stretches. Each morning when my alarm clock goes off, as soon as I tap it, I start stretching. It’s a great way to promote blood circulation and gives you the extra boost you may need to start your day. My stretches have helped me so much in the early morning, that I also do some in the mid-afternoon to avoid the slump after lunch.
5. Decrease your intake of simple carbs. 
   

   Cupcakes like these taste good and give me a quick energy boost, but I’ve found that the unhealthy rush doesn’t last long at all!

    

   I saved this one for last because it is the hardest one for me. Who doesn’t love a good slice of cake you know? And it’s true, simple carbs can give you quickest boost of energy ever. But the problem is that the crash from the “sugar high” is awful, and you tend to feel more fatigued that you were originally. I’ve found that when I’ve opted for a simple carb fix, I also eat more and more to keep my energy levels up — which unfortunately keeps my caloric intake high as well.

What do you do boost your energy naturally?