Rupert Grint, better known as Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter series, was recently photographed exiting a London hotel looking haggard. Revealing dark circles and bags under his eyes with tired looking features, Rupert looked shockingly tired. Even though sources attribute the photos taken to a bad camera angle and lighting, we’re lead to wonder if the signs of fatigue are because of his training and rehearsals for his upcoming sky show.
While it’s one thing to be dedicated to your work and goals, it’s equally important to pause and take the occasional time-out to recover. Here are 5 health enhancing ways you can fight fatigue and win:
- Drink plenty of water
Sometimes we mistake hunger pangs as a need for food, when actually it’s a cry for water by your body. It’s important to keep those fluids replenished as dehydration destroys energy and weakens physical performance. It also leads to a decrease in alertness and concentration. While certain foods like cucumber, celery and tomatoes contain plenty of water, you still need to aim for at least 8 glasses of water daily. Keeping a water bottle at your desk ensures you drink-up!
- Get to bed early- get some Zs
Lack of sleep has similar effects of dehydration. Loss of energy and alertness are two main symptoms of a sleep deprivation. While a solid 6-8 hours of sleep is advisable, if you’re running on fumes it’s important to take a 10-30 minute nap for an energy boost. A good way to get your sleep cycle on track is to turn off all screens and digital gadgets an hour before you plan to sleep. It’ll help you relax your alert senses and prime your body and mind for a break.
- Eat more often
Food is necessary, but eating nourishing food at proper intervals and timings is equally important. People who skip meals, or take a meal-break at more than 5 hour intervals during waking hours experience dip in energy levels. Fuel your body with the 3 important meals and insert a light snack between each meal. Carrying your own snacks will ensure you don’t miss a beat. Plus, regular and portion controlled meals aid in weightloss, so eat away!
- Take a tech time-out
Staring at a screen for long leads to a headache. Stare at a distant object for a minute after every hour to relax your eyes. And when you reach home, make a conscious effort to go gadget-free for at least an hour. These little tricks are great to level up your energy and keep you stress free.
- Cut out caffeine
Caffeinated drinks might give you a quick energy boost but their effects are temporary. This constant roller coaster of energy levels tires you out faster than a caffeine free day. Try weaning away from the addiction and cut-down the intake to a minimum 1 cup a day (if you really must).