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Daily mood & energy drainers

It’s so easy to list all of the things that help our mood…eat well, sleep 8 hours, and exercise. This may be a little “reverse psychology” but it might be easier to point out all of the not-so-great activities we do that drain us. And if we’re up for the change, here are 4 topics to look at.

  1. Staying up late and sleeping in. Sleep hygiene is nuanced. Our circadian rhythm is a natural 24-hour process that regulates our sleep and wake windows. Long story short, if we go to bed around the same time and wake up at the same time, our circadian rhythm is consistent and functions well. If we stay up late and/or sleep in, this directly impacts our mood and energy level. Set some alarms to get yourself to bed at night and get yourself out of bed in the morning.
  2. Doom scrolling. Picking up our phones is a mindless, second nature activity. We end a call or send a text and it’s so easy to scroll over to whatever app keeps your attention. Turn off your non-essential notifications and set app timers to reduce usage.
  3. Not drinking enough water. Dehydration makes us feel yucky. Water is good for our physical health which directly correlates with our mental health. If we’re hydrated we reduce the risk of headaches, irritability, thirst, and even skin changes.
  4. Drinking a bazillion cups of caffeine. I’m looking at you coffee, tea, and soda. There’s a misconception that caffeine gives us energy. I can definitely value the jolt of energy I feel about 20 minutes after my morning cup of coffee. However, caffeine shuts off that essential part of our brain that tells us we’re sleepy. So when it is bed time and you’re laying awake self diagnosing yourself with anxiety because your thoughts are racing; it is most likely a result of the sleepy part of your brain being deactivated by coffee. Bed time is a natural function of our brain (circadian rhythm), and if messed around, it impacts our sleep quality, digestive system, and overall well being. Stick to a couple cups a day, with a cut off time of 2 pm (about) so the caffeine half life doesn’t interrupt your sleep.

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