10 ways to Instantly Increase Your Energy Level

Getting that 3 PM slump? We have all been there :-)

Here are some reliable tips and hacks to increase your energy levels, and take on the world:

Put a pinch or two of coarse salt at the tip of your tongue. Let it dissolve. Drink some water. If you have electrolyte infused water, you could drink that as long as it isn't too sweet.

Write down 3 things that you can appreciate right now. Can't think of anything? Just think of one thing right now that you can really appreciate even if it is trivial. Example, the softness of the fabric touching your skin. 

Press the ST36 area on your body for 30 seconds on each side. What is ST36? It is an accupressure term to denote a small area just below your knee and on the outside. Need more instructions? Click this link.

Move your neck slowly from left to right three times. Change direction and repeat. Then rotate sideways on both sides three times. By the way, if you do this or any kind of stretching every 20 minutes outside your chair, you will attain immortality. Okay you won't. But you will feel just like it. Trust me.

Dr. Andrew Weil suggests a breathing technique called "Stimulating Breath" which invigorates you rather quickly:

Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. Your breaths in and out should be equal in duration, but as short as possible. This is a noisy breathing exercise. This produces a quick movement of the diaphragm. Breathe normally after each cycle.Do not do for more than 15 seconds on your first try. Each time you practice the Stimulating Breath, you can increase your time by five seconds or so, until you reach a full minute.

Watch a video of Dr. Weil demonstrating this technique here.

Jog lightly for 5 minutes. Jog so that you are still able to talk or breathe easily. You can jog outside or jog indoors. You can even jog in one place if you don't have space.

Do you know what tells the body it is not time to quit? Something that squashes the body's melotonin better than anything else.  Yeap, it is the good ol' dosage of sunshine. If you are lucky to have one outside, go out and walk around the block.

Take a power nap if the fatigue level is high. You are respecting the body's need to take a break. Plus it does wonders to an energy boost for the rest of your day. Your body now knows that it got some rest and it can go on for the rest of the day with more energy. Don't exceed  more than 20 minutes. If you have insomnia, then maybe this is not a good technique. For people with insomnia, recent evidence suggests that the closer you sleep to your real sleep cycle, the harder it would be to get back to sleep. The best thing would be start with 10 mts and then adjust depending on how you feel. If nothing, just lie horizontal for 10 minutes.

Another natural invigorator? Being funny. Think of something goofy or funny, and share it with your friend or partner. You can even cheat. Copy and paste a joke if you have to. The idea is to smile and share.

Order a double caramel icecream milk shake blended with deep-fried donut batter, condensed milk, and topped with warm oreo cookie crumbles. JUST KIDDING. We were practicing tip #9 :-)