Whether you tossed and turned all night because it was too hot or stayed up late watching the World Cup, trying to get up and moving after a bad night’s sleep can feel impossible. But once you get out of bed, there are some steps you can take to keep it from ruining your entire day.

“It’s all about managing and tweaking the rest of the day so it doesn’t start to spread into all other areas,” says Simon Alexander Ong, life coach and author of “Energize: Make the Most of Every Moment.” Here’s how to boost your energy the day after a restless night.

Expose yourself to as much sunlight as possible - Those rays are a great natural energy booster, so open the curtains and flood the room with light. Ong recommends getting outside a little more during the day “to help restore some of your depleted energy levels.”
Move your body - Sitting all day will just make you feel even more tired, but movement will get the blood flowing, increase endorphins and help you feel energized.
Take breaks - “Remember that work and rest are partners of the same team,” says Ong. “Lots of amazing inventors and entrepreneurs have taken meaningful rest breaks out of their days to spend time outside in nature and returned to their desks flush with ideas.”
Simplify your to-do list - Focus on what you must get done today and don’t waste your mental energy on tasks you can put off until tomorrow.
Block out time in your calendar - Block out a half hour or an hour to focus on your most important task to make sure you get the most important non-negotiable item done.
Make things fun - Try to make work more fun and enjoyable, like having a meeting outside.
Delay big decisions - Try to put off any major decisions until you have more mental energy. The same goes for difficult conversations, since we tend to be more reactive and less patient when we’re physically exhausted. So save these talks for when you’re well-rested.
Adjust your routine - Ong advises modifying your regular habits and routine to be a little less intense, like hitting the gym for 20 minutes instead of an hour.
Stop giving a running commentary about how tired you are - “The more you focus on something you can’t control or change, the more powerless you will feel. Saying things like ‘I’m exhausted today’ or ‘this is going to be a write-off day’ will stop you from doing anything productive,” says Ong. Instead, accept it may be a slower day and focus your attention on what you can get done.

Source: The Independent

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