The key is to balance times of stress with some recovery time and to recognize when it’s time to take a break.  Here are just a few ideas that you can put into action each day.

Active recovery: This might include taking a walk, going for a run, gardening or working out

Passive recovery: This category includes activities such as reading, watching a funny show, or listening to music

People time: Scheduling time with a friend or family member can really help you to feel renewed

Alone time: Relaxing or spending time alone to meditate is another great way to recharge

While stress can be an opportunity for personal growth, it’s important to listen to your body in order to maintain a healthy balance.  Try these various techniques and learn what works for you in a given moment. This way you will be refreshed and ready to face whatever may come your way.

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These activities will make a noticeable difference in helping you find that sense of newness and fulfillment you’re seeking:

Read

Reading will expand your horizons and give you an appreciation of concepts and ideas you have never really considered before. It will not be long before you find that you are becoming more imaginative and even more accepting of the points of view of others around you.

• History books will help you to appreciate other cultures and give insight as to how they differ from your own.
  
• If you are prone to behave a certain way, such as a free-loving spirit or a goal-driven individual, try reading about how you can break out of your mold and live in another realm. You will be surprised at how liberating it can be!

Engage others

Participating in conversations with those outside of your friends or your coworkers is a great way to open your mind’s eye. Visit a new hang out spot or accept invitations from random acquaintances and see what new opportunities come your way.

• Give politics a try by engaging politics-driven individuals in conversation. You may not ever become a politician, but you can at least understand their point of view!
  
• Why not spend some time with charity workers to understand how others benefit from what they do? Maybe this is an opportunity for you to start giving back and make a difference in the life of someone less fortunate.

Create

When you were a child, was there ever anything you wanted to be able to create? Poetry, music, or even a structure? Why not attempt it again now that you are grown?  Try and do something totally unrelated to your current stage or status in life. 

• Write a book sharing your innermost fears and insecurities.  It just might give you the deliverance you have wanted for many years.
  
• Start a self-development blog for teens, which could help them through issues you faced when you were their age.  Maybe you could help someone find their way through a difficult time.

Appreciate

Even though the things other people achieve might not be within your ability, spend time looking into their accomplishments for their worth. This may allow you to gain an appreciation you never had before.

You are never too old to learn! 

There are endless teachings just waiting to have a profound impact on you, if only you will let them.

The more you expose your mind to, the broader your horizons will become.

Knowledge is power. Do not limit yourself.  Open your mind to new possibilities.

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The most common schedule limits eating to a few hours each day. You could have a late lunch along with dinner at your regular time. You would limit your eating to a 4-5 hour window.

There are other schedules and approaches, but this one is generally the most popular.

If you’re really motivated, you could try alternating one day of eating with one day of fasting. Traditionally, water is the only permitted item on fasting days although there are other programs which support fasting days with supplements or lite snacks. Other people choose to limit their eating to an 8-hour window. Depending upon your life style there are many options that will work with your schedule.

The following are only a few of the health benefits that can be experienced from Intermittent fasting (IF):

1. Reduces oxidative damage. Normal cellular metabolism produces free radicals. These highly reactive molecules cause damage in your body. Antioxidants are one class of nutrients that counteract these effects. Intermittent fasting reduces the presence of free radicals, resulting in less oxidative damage
   • Oxidative damage is also suspected of being one component of aging. The damage of oxidative stress eventually adds up, and the organism eventually dies.
2. Reduces inflammation. Inflammation is in the news on a daily basis. Systemic inflammation is caused by the immune system. This low-grade inflammation is rarely noticed, but it’s implicated in many chronic diseases. Hypertension, arthritis, and asthma are three examples. Lupus and inflammatory bowel disease are also caused by inflammation.
   • The foods we eat are major contributors to inflammation. By going a longer period without food, you can reduce the amount of inflammation in your body.
3. Possibly increases your life span. IF has been shown to increase life span in rodents. The surest was of increasing the lifespan of any mammal is to reduce its calorie intake. Studies haven’t been going on long enough to show if the effect is found in humans, but scientists have been able to double the lifespan of rats and mice by reducing their food intake.
4. Reduces obesity and hypertension. If you only eat for a few hours per day, you’ll eat less. When you eat less, you weigh less. Hypertension is also reduced by intermittent fasting. This is probably due to a combination of weight loss and reduced inflammation.
   • Obesity is implicated as a contributing factor to many diseases. Getting your weight under control is an important goal.
5. IF has been found to improve, or even cure, type-2 diabetes. Reducing the number of times you eat each day will reduce the amount of insulin released by your pancreas. This helps to improve insulin sensitivity. Again, losing weight is also believed to be a factor.

By reducing hypertension, inflammation, and blood sugar issues, the likelihood of developing heart disease is much lower. Intermittent fasting can be that powerful.

Intermittent fasting has been shown to provide numerous health benefits. However, it’s still necessary to choose your foods wisely. The quality of your diet is still important. No diet will turn doughnuts and chips into health foods. You still have the responsibility to eat well.

Intermittent fasting can be an effective way to combat aging and many diseases. Of course, it’s still necessary to follow the advice of your physician. Start slowly. Try skipping breakfast and any morning snacks for a week. The following week, give up your evening snacks, too. You’ll be an intermittent faster before you know it.

For more information on the benefits of Intermittent Fasting and how to get started, click here for a Free Report.

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2. Balance your breakfast with both carbohydrates and protein. Eating a bagel with coffee may be easy in the morning, but you’ll have more energy if you add peanut butter or meat to the bagel. Balancing carbs with protein gives you more energy throughout the day.

• Your breakfast matters in the hunt for more energy. A combination of carbohydrates and protein is one of the best ways to start the day.
• You can combine yogurt with toast for a more balanced meal. Eggs and toast are another common breakfast staple that works.

3. Try to catch the sunlight. Sunlight can be very invigorating.

• The brain relies on light to determine sleep and wakefulness patterns. By spending more time in the sun, you can find more energy. At least 30 to 40 minutes of sunlight a day can make a big difference in energy levels.

4. Use essential oils. Essential oils are very powerful. They can actually change moods and help to reduce stress.

• Essential oils can be inhaled or used on the skin. They can provide an instant energy boost.
• Citrus is a popular aromatherapy choice because it has an uplifting effect.
• Basil can also help to wake up the mind. Eucalyptus, mint, and rosemary essential oils are also used by many to boost energy.

5. Add sweet potatoes to your meals. Sweet potatoes offer potassium and keep energy levels balanced. They’re also a good source of other vitamins and minerals. They’re known for having high levels of vitamin A.
6. Drink green tea. Green tea has an important amino acid that is linked to helping people stay more energized.
7. Mash chia seeds and add them to smoothies. Chia seeds are high in protein and minerals.

• Mashing chia seeds can make them easier to drink in your smoothies. You can also add them to your food. Sprinkle the seeds on top of salads or casseroles.

8. Stay hydrated in unique ways. Water is crucial for giving you the energy to keep going during the day. However, it can be challenging to drink plain water and get the required amount.

• Add fruit and flavor packets to your water to make it unique. You can combine pieces of lemon with pineapple, apple, or blackberries for a different taste.
• I love this water bottle which is designed to make it easy to infuse refreshing fruit flavors into your water. It even has a detachable reusable ice attachment which you put in the freezer and then back in your bottle to keep your water cold without ice!

Click on the picture below now to get yours!

Add more watermelon to your diet. If you’re trying to stay hydrated, watermelon can help you achieve the goal. It has high water content and gives you more energy.

9. Snack on nuts throughout the day. Are you looking for a fast way to get more energy? Nuts have protein and vitamins. They’re a fast and convenient way to get an energy boost at work or at home.

• The nutrients in nuts can create lasting energy that goes on for hours.

Simple tricks can help you discover more energy in your day. These tips will help you stay alert and focused.

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