In 365 Energy Boosters , Seton and Kornblatt provide us with a daily guide for putting an end to the madness, embracing a new and improved life experience, and getting a big dose of energy to boot. You'll find energizing one-minute exercises and foods for a quick pick-me-up and learn ways to track your natural energy cycles, get organized, sleep better, and wake yourself up whenever your energy takes a nosedive. Some of the most touching stories remind us that we don't have to have a big yard or a lot of money to have a garden. Some of the most touching stories remind us that we don't have to have a big yard or a lot of money to have a garden. Susannah Seton is the author of Simple Pleasures of the Home, Simple Pleasures of the Garden, Simple Pleasures for the Holidays , and co-author of Simple Pleasures: Soothing Suggestions and Small Comforts for Living Well Year-Round . She lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband and daughter. Sondra Kornblatt is a health and science writer and the author of A Better Brain at Any Age and co-author of 365 Energy Boosters . She developed the Restful Insomnia program in 2000 and has been teaching it in the Pacific Northwest since. She lives in the Seattle area with her two children. everyday Energy Boosters 365 tips and tricks to help you feel like a million bucks By Susannah Seton, Sondra Kornblatt Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC Copyright © 2012 Sondra Kornblatt and Susannah Seton All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-57324-869-3 Contents IntroductionEveryday Energy BoostersBibliographyAbout the Authors CHAPTER 1 ENERGY BOOSTER1 Understand Energy Cycles Energy ebbs and flows during the day. In his book Calm Energy , mood scientist Robert E.Thayer cites research that shows how energy typically follows a pattern: low upon waking,rising to a high in late morning or early afternoon, declining in the afternoon, perhaps witha slight rise in early evening, followed by a steady decline until bedtime. This information can be liberating. You're not supposed to feel perky all day long—it'snatural for it to ebb and flow! Once you understand this, you can stop feeling something iswrong with you when you feel low energy in the late afternoon and evening. It's yourbiorhythms—and it happens to everyone, with slight variations. Now doesn't that makeyou feel better? ENERGY BOOSTER2 Track Your Energy/Tension Cycles In Calm Energy , Robert Thayer points out that in addition to natural energy cycles we alsohave tension cycles: tension tends to be lowest when waking, and increases throughoutthe day, reaching a peak at about five p.m. "The relationship between energy and tensionis critical for understanding our everyday behavior," he writes. "When our energy is high,we can withstand stress with relative impunity. But as our energy drops, stress can haveits greatest effect.... One negative effect of this period of tense tiredness is that we oftendo things we would prefer not to do to self-regulate the unpleasant state." Things likeeating or drinking, or not exercising. When you put the two cycles together, in general, between ten a.m. and one p.m. is a timeof the highest energy and lowest tension, the perfect time to do challenging tasks. If youare interested in tracking your specific cycles, you need to do it for three days. Pick typicaldays when you go to bed and get up at regular times and face ordinary tasks. Rateyourself on the hour, every hour from waking to sleeping on a scale of 1 to 10 for energy(1 being lowest) and a separate scale for tension (1 being lowest). Use a kitchen timer toremind yourself to do it. After three days, look at when your energy is the highest and tension the lowest. This isyour peak performance time. Also look at when tension is highest and energy lowest.These are the times you are the most vulnerable to overeating or other unwantedbehaviors. Then you can plan to use a more healthy energy booster or take a siesta. ENERGY BOOSTER3 Air Out Your Dry Cleaning The cleaning fluids used to clean your clothes could be making you tired. Some can causethe thyroid to stop working properly. To avoid giving yourself a chemical blast, air yourclean clothes outside. When that chemical smell is gone, it means the solvents haveevaporated and it is safe to bring your clothes into the house. ENERGY BOOSTER4 What Your Fatigue Is Trying to Tell You Debra Waterhouse suggests in Outsmarting Female Fatigue that we just write thequestion out—"What is my fatigue trying to tell me?"—and notice what comes up for ananswer. There are no wrong answers, but in doing this, avoid blaming yourself: "It's tellingme it's all my fault." Also don't assume that it means you have a dread disease. What youdiscover will help you decide which other ideas in this book you might want to try. ENERGY BOOSTER5 Make an Energy Elixir When you hit the mid-afternoon slump, try a smoothie made with tea. It gives you a bit of acaffeine boost but at only half the strength o