How to Boost Your Energy After an Illness
Motivation may be hard to find after you have been sick. Struggling with getting better can take all the energy and focus you have, and yet you still need to move forward with basic life functions when recovering from an illness. Sometimes it is hard to have enough push to just go to the grocery when your body is regaining its strength. Friends and family may provide some assistance during this tough time but eventually, you need to get back to taking care of yourself. Finding ways to boost your energy can speed this process along, and here are some ideas to make it fun, easy, and healthy.
See a Nutritionist
Once you are no longer contagious, make an appointment to see a nutritionist in your community. You can find one through your insurance, medical professional, social media or online resources. Because good nutrition is at the core of restoring your health, it is important to find a person you feel comfortable being completely honest with about your habits and your current situation. You may be interested in adding supplements to your diet and can discuss what is Thrive with your new partner in health.
The boost from products such as these can enhance your daily energy level and can help you on the road to feeling more like yourself sooner. A nutritionist can personalize a meal plan for you to provide ideas about what are the best foods for you to consume to help you recover from your illness and lay a foundation of healthy choices. Many foods and supplements can work together to stimulate healing and boost energy.
Hire a Personal Trainer
Getting a boost in energy is a little like starting a business, you have to spend some to make some. Hire a personal trainer to design an exercise routine that is something you can do now and build on as the weeks go by. Even if you didn’t work out before your illness, starting a program now will help your body recover healthier than before you got sick, and will build your strength up so you will be less susceptible in the future. Your nutrition plan and your exercise program will work together to boost your energy and build up a healthy immune system. Make sure to take it at a pace that feels good to you and not push yourself too far too fast.
Explore Hobbies
Now is the time to give your body and mind time to relax, have fun and explore hobbies you had or maybe have always wanted. Part of the healing process is letting go of stress and focusing on things that bring you happiness. These good feelings will boost your energy and lead to a more fulfilling life. What you choose to do depends on your interests, sense of adventure and creativity.
Some ideas for inspiration include reading a new bestseller, writing a story about a major event in your life, learning pickleball, taking a cooking class, planting a garden, volunteering at an animal shelter, playing a musical instrument or buying a new fishing pole. Get outside, breathe deeply and soak in the sunshine. Decide on one or two things to focus on so you will not spread yourself too thin but can truly dive into the fun activity of your choice. If your hobby is seasonal, then take some time to choose others for different times of the year so you will always have something positive to connect with and feel inspired by.
Set a Goal
Motivation can be driven by a specific target and if you set your mind on something you want to achieve, your energy will increase to satisfy that goal. Narrowing it to one idea will help keep your purpose in perspective and ensure that your progress towards your goal will be measurable. For instance, during the time of your illness, you spent a lot of time in your bedroom and kept looking at your old desk in the corner.
Now that you are feeling a little better, you can take the time to scrape, sand and repaint one of your favorite pieces of furniture. The project doesn’t have to be expensive and your goal doesn’t have to have a tight timeframe. The purpose is not to be an added source of stress, but an achievable goal that boosts your energy by giving you a reason to be active and a sense of accomplishment.
Keep a Journal
Your body has had time to heal and recuperate so now it is time to give your mind some time for relaxation, too. Keep a journal for reflection on what you have been through and hopes for what you are moving towards. This can be part of your healing journey and will help document the progress you make physically and mentally as you regain your strength.
Journaling is very personal so have fun with it and let your creativity and thoughtfulness take over the pages. Meditation can be helpful before or after journaling. Use this as a healing time to contemplate the positive choices you have made for your path and make it a habit to visit weekly or even daily.
Schedule Rest Time
Your system needs downtime to rest, relax and recuperate. There are few things as wonderful for the body as a good night’s sleep after a day of nutritious food and healthy activity. As you recover from your illness, your energy will increase as your sleep schedule returns to normal and you don’t need the extra hours in bed. When you do not get enough sleep, you feel even more exhausted and have even less energy. To help boost your energy, schedule 8 hours a night for undisturbed rest and avoid cell phones right before bed.
Be Selective of Your Drinks
As your body continues to be rejuvenated, make sure to give yourself plenty of water every day. Consuming drinks that contain electrolytes will give you an extra boost of replenishing nutrients. It may be tempting to drink alcohol now that you feel well enough to meet friends for happy hour, but limiting or avoiding alcohol will keep your energy up.
Alcohol is a sedative and drains you of your energy, nutrients and focus. Most of the good healing that your body has done since your illness can be undone by a bad hangover, so don’t pay that price and stick to water, soda, tea or some other type of beverage that is non-alcoholic until your body is totally recovered.
This illness you are recovering from could be a sickness that has altered your life in some way or could be the flu that had you in bed for a week. Give yourself lots of time to recover and make some healthy changes along the way. Being mindful of what you eat and drink, what activities you plan, what goals you set and who you turn to for guidance in these decisions can speed your recovery, boost your energy and benefit your life not just for the moment, but for years to come. Take this time to set in motion plans that will not just facilitate healing for your body, but nurture your spirit as well.
