5 Things I Do in a Day to Feel Energized
Diane Sanfilippo is a multi-talented entrepreneur and a Certified Nutrition Consultant. She’s the founder of Balanced Bites, a popular health blog focused on Paleo and keto cooking, as well as a New York Times best-selling author. Here's how she stays energized each day.
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1. Enjoy a morning sweat sesh.
I exercise indoors with a trainer three to four times a week. We train doing a combination of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), bodyweight exercises, kettlebells and barbell work for 60 to 90 minutes. This is truly “me” time, setting the tone for the rest of the day and helping me feel productive and great. As an entrepreneur, my daily stress tends to build up as time goes on, so if I can get a workout done first thing, there’s no chance for something else to “come up” and deter me from keeping the healthy habit.
2. Eat a protein- and fat-rich breakfast.
Whether it’s before my workout or right after, I like to eat something full of protein and fat, like a veggie-packed frittata. This ensures that my blood sugar and energy levels are even throughout the day and I’m free of cravings!
3. Change locations.
I often change where I’m working throughout the day, moving from my desk, to another spot in my house, or to a café. By changing my surroundings, I am able to re-energize and refocus on the work in front of me. I’ll also change the type of work I’m doing if possible and move from computer work to recipe development or other off-computer projects to get a boost of energy.
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4. Take a walk.
In the afternoon, when the day still has working hours left but I am losing focus, I’ll take a 20- to 30-minute walk through the city to a park near the Golden Gate Bridge with views of the bay. I’ll plug into an inspirational podcast during that time, like NPR’s “How I Built This,” to spark creativity as well as energy. I love to think and brainstorm while listening to inspiring entrepreneurial podcasts or happiness and habits-related shows.
5. Power down.
A few hours before bed, I turn off the blue light on my screens and phone. Then, 30 minutes before going to sleep, I often take a hot shower to help my body relax before snuggling under the sheets. I fall asleep listening to an audiobook set to a sleep timer as I find it helps my mind to wind down. I always listen to something I’ve heard before so that I don’t try to stay awake to hear it. It may seem like an odd trick, but I’m typically asleep within five to 10 minutes this way and my mind doesn’t get a chance to run through a to-do list or race while dwelling on anything else.
About our author
Diane Sanfilippo is a multi-talented entrepreneur and a Certified Nutrition Consultant. She’s the founder of Balanced Bites, a popular health blog focused on Paleo and keto cooking, as well as a New York Times best-selling author.