Our Top 5 Energy Boosters for People Leaders (Or Anyone For That Matter)

In many of our workshops lately, energy, or rather the lack of it, has been a big issue. In this post and podcast, we share our top five energy boosting tips. They’re all super easy and there’s not a piece of gym equipment in sight!

As a people leader, you really do need to be at your best if you're expecting the best from your team. And to be as effective as you can be, you need to be optimised mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you can get all of these areas humming along - or even just improve them all a little bit – you’ll have more vitality, more strength and you’ll be able to act more effectively in your role. Here’s a countdown of our favourite energy boosters from five to one.

Listen here or continue reading below.

#5: Drink hot water and lemon first thing

Drinking hot (not boiling) water with a quarter of a lemon squeezed into it first thing in the morning will set you up for the day. Not only does this give you a good dose of Vitamin C, but you’re also doing something positive and cleansing for yourself first thing.

Tip: If you’re prone to laziness, make it at night and top up with hot water in the morning.  

#4: Do something of service for someone

When you do something for someone else, you feel good, lighter, happier. The ‘feel good’ endorphins released in your body when you do an act of service energises you. It can be something as small as a smile or a kind word or a more significant act.

Tip: Do this earlier on in the day. If you can set your morning up right, then you're building momentum for a successful and rewarding day.    

#3: Take three to five deep diaphragmatic breaths

Sitting down and placing your left hand on your chest and your right hand on your belly, now take three to five deep breaths in through the nose, out through the mouth. Which hand moves? Shallow breathing is felt up top with your left hand but that’s not what we want. Ideally, your right hand will rise and fall because the energising deep breath, called diaphragmatic breathing, comes from lower down towards your belly.

Tip: Take three deep breaths before going into a meeting or stressful environment. It acts like a pattern interrupt, clearing the head and circulating oxygen throughout the body and brain.

Bonus Tip: If you really want to step up your breathing game, try this 7-Step Quick Start Breathing Program from Breathe Me. I (Jan) have been using their techniques for several months now and can tell you they really do make a difference.

#2: Play your favourite song

Listen to one of your favourite songs and feel what happens. Your body wants to move and your mind feels stimulated. You immediately feel good and energised, right?

Tip: Try incorporating this with your morning hot water and lemon - but be careful not to spill!                  

#1: Early to bed, early to rise

We all know sleep is important. But did you know that people who stay up late and sleep late have a 10% higher risk of dying sooner than people who go to bed early and rise early? This was proven in recent large scale UK study, so there really is science to back up the adage that the early birds get the worm.

Tip: If you find going to bed early a challenge because you lie there with your eyes open, try counting down from 20 or take some deep diaphragmatic breaths taking care to make the exhale longer than the inhalation. Alternatively, recount your day without any judgement, working backwards from when you went to bed all the way through to the morning when you had your hot water and lemon. This is a Buddhist practise which allows the mind to let go.        

Find the energy boosters that work for you

Test out these five natural energy boosters and you’ll find the ones that resonate for you. Remember, if you win the morning you win the day so make sure you set yourself up with one or two of these activities first thing and let us know how you go. And if you have any simple energy boosting tips you’d like to share, please let us know them too.