Energy slumps suck. The nonstop yawning, droopy eyes, deflated posture. All you want to do is take a nap, but it’s only 3 in the afternoon and you have a lot more day to get through before you can sleep. Walk into a convenience store and it’s like everything they sell is to keep you awake. Sugar in a million different flavors, fresh brewed coffee, iced coffee, soda, energy drinks, little packets for sale that promise to keep you awake and alert. If you read my blog, you already know that none of these things is going to give you lasting, sustainable energy, as tempting and as tasty as they may be. So, what can you do?! How do you re-energize with real food when you’re in an energy slump and need to get going? Here are some suggestions: 1. Superfoods and Vitamin B They call them Superfoods for a reason. Citrus, blueberries, whole grains like oat, dark, leafy greens like spinach or kale, fatty fish like salmon, brightly colored veggies – these are all so packed with vitamins and minerals, your body gets a ton of nutrients to work with and keep you alert. If you’re going to have something sweet, make sure it has protein in it, like a granola bar. Combining sugars with fats will minimize the crash. Add some avocado to a smoothie. Don’t focus on the protein – focus on the nuts and oats. Protein isn’t going to give you a boost but will sustain the energy you get from the sugar coating it. Vitamin B is also really helpful for making your body more efficient at using the food you consume for energy. B12 only occurs in animal protein, so if you’re a Vegan and feel like you’re sluggish, you should consider taking a B12 supplement. Keep a small bottle of them handy to help your body make the most of what you’re feeding it. 2. Your Nose Knows Recent studies have claimed that sense of smell is an under-rated, yet extremely important sense. Our sense of smell is one of our most important senses for storing memory. Have you ever caught a whiff of something that transported your mind to a person or place? Well, don’t under-estimate what your favorite scent can do for refreshing you. The smell of coffee is sometimes enough to wake people up. Keep a little spray bottle of peppermint oil and water handy to shoot into the air when you need a pick-me-up. You’ll be amazed by the results! 3. Keep Breathing! Need a quick boost of energy, don’t have time to stop for a granola bar and can’t find your spray bottle? BREATHE!!! LAUGH! Give yourself a case of the giggles, dance in your car. Do 20 jumping jacks. You don’t have to break a sweat to get the oxygen flowing in your blood again. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel! Of course, the best way to give yourself the gift of energy is to create habits that make it sustainable throughout the day, so you don’t even experience slumps. Eating raw or Vegan, eliminating sugar and caffeine, exercising regularly, getting a good night’s sleep are all the best ways to create that. I know… you just snorted at the idea of getting to sleep, let alone a good night’s sleep, but some solid rest can go for miles on a long day. Try to shut all of your electronics, including the TV, an hour before bed. Get your room as dark as you can to encourage quality, uninterrupted sleep. Ultimately, you won’t have to resort to tricks or tactics to get through the slumps if you’re living healthy. I’ve just given you really important advice for how to get through energy slumps, by rocket fueling yourself with real food. Did you like what you read? Do you have good tricks for healthy re-energizing that you want to share? Leave a comment! XO Hayley Originally published on Mind Body Green.