Energy Boosters: 12 Ways to Get Out of a Slump

1. Allow yourself to gain up to four pounds every decade after the age 25.
Who says you can never be too thin? Putting on a bit of weight as we get older is good for the body and soul; Extreme thinness increases the risk of osteoporosis, and a thin face is much more likely than a “plumped up” one to show wrinkles.

2. To avoid overeating, eat more often.
Recognize the real, physical signs of hunger and give in to them every three hours or so with a healthy bite. Fill up, guilt-free, on “good-fuel” -salad greens, lightly cooked vegetables, fruits, lean protein, low-fat dairy products, and natural carbohydrates, such as whole grain breads, pasta, rice and beans.

3. Boost your stamina by building more exercise into your life.
Get out and walk three times a week for at least 20 minutes. Shun elevators and go as fast as you can up flights of stairs. For easy indoor exercise, buy a step and an aerobics video. Or invest in a trampoline, a fun source of low-impact aerobic exercise that’s ideal for women with joint problems.

4. For a surgery free lift, tone up your face muscles with regular workouts.
Try this exercise to firm up jowls and double chins: Tilt your head back, jut your chin out slightly, and lower your jaw to open your mouth. Now smile as wide as you can, bringing your back teeth together. Still smiling, lower and raise your jaw 10 times slowly. You’re on your way to a leaner, happier face!

5. Cultivate good sleeping habits.
Regular, restful sleep is vital for maintaining a healthy, energized body and a refreshed, youthful appearance. Never turn in at night until you’re really tired, and never linger under the covers in the morning longer than necessary. When you wake up naturally, your body has had enough sleep. Too much sleep will leave you lethargic.

6. Take control of your own time.
Be aware of how you spend each moment of your day. Make a daily “to do” list and stick to it. Accept commitments only within the bounds of what you can do without exhausting yourself. Be firm with others, and yourself.

7. Set the alarm to wake you 30 minutes earlier than usual for a week.
See if you notice any difference in how you feel throughout the day. If you don’t feel tired, take another half hour off the following week This “found” time can help ease the pressures of starting a busy day.

8. Increase your mind’s ability to focus.
To sharpen your skill at staying focused, try this exercise: Start counting down from 100. See how far you can get before an extraneous thought pops into your head. When it does, banish it: Put the thought in an imaginary balloon and picture if floating out of the room. Go back to 100 and begin again. Eventually, you’ll reach zero without distraction.

9. Revamp your career potential.

“Blue sky” what you’d like to do and identify the broad areas into which your ideal work fits. Write down all your skills, talents, interests, and previous work experience, and see how many of these qualities apply your chosen area. Narrow the field  down to specifics and do research to find out if the job of your dreams really exists.

10. Learn something new.
Consider taking a class. Overview courses are a great way to reintroduce yourself to a subject area. If you’d like the structure of a class without the pressure of grades, look into continuing and adult education courses.

11. Keep an open mind.
Embrace new experiences and take time out to evaluate your views, on politics, religion, or something as simple as your favorite foods. By reviewing your beliefs and your actions. you’ll maintain a fresh, unjaded perspective.

12. Indulge yourself in hedonistic pleasure–pleasure as a beginning and an end itself.
If you have only one hour to spare: Draw a bubble bath and pour yourself a glass of champagne; drop everything and and take a slow walk in a favorite scenic place; makes you laugh; or treat yourself to a full body massage. Whatever you choose to do for yourself, do it without guilt–you deserve to be pampered!