Life is so busy these days. It seems like "Good! Busy!" has become a standard response now when someone asks how we're doing. There's no doubt that we have a ton of responsibilities. We have kids to take care of, husbands to connect with, jobs requiring our best, homes that need to be cleaned, dishes and laundry that need to be done, meals that need to be prepared. And that list doesn't include family, friends, church, spending regular time in the Word, volunteering, or self-care. It's no wonder we're exhausted!

Unfortunately, we can't just crawl into bed and neglect our responsibilities when we're tired (although we may certainly want to!). We have people who depend on us and while that is a blessing, sometimes we just don't know where we're going to find the energy to accomplish everything on our to-do list. When that happens, I have some go-to practices that give me just enough of an energy boost to do what I need to.

1 | Meditate

Twenty minutes of Inner Sound Meditation gives us the same amount of rest as four hours of sleep. This meditation technique is perfect for those of us who simply can't make our thoughts settle down.

2 | Do Yoga

Doing even a few minutes of light stretching can soothe tired muscles and give us enough of a pick-me-up to be able to finish our to-do list. I love Restorative Yoga even when I'm not tired but it's that much more of a treat when I'm not feeling my best. It's a very slow, relaxing and energizing practice. In Restorative Yoga, all the poses are held for about 5-7 minutes and are supported by props so that your body melts into gentle stretches while the mind relaxes. You could even multi-task and rest in a restorative pose while meditating!

3 | Pray

The book of James is one of my favorites in the Bible. There's a passage about rejoicing in trials that I believe applies to this as well. James 1:5 says "now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." I think that in the same way we can ask God for wisdom and it will be given to us, we can ask for energy, strength, and discipline and He will give it to us.

These three practices are very helpful when I'm feeling tired and I hope they help you too! But, I'd also like to share my secret to not feeling tired in the first place.

My Secret to Not Feeling Tired in the First Place

I love the feeling of having enough energy to do everything I need to do, enjoy the process and enjoy a relaxing evening after a productive day. What we eat and drink is important for giving us energy. Food is fuel for the body. What kind of fuel are we putting in our bodies? Low-quality or premium?

I have noticed that depending on what I eat, I am either much more tired or much more energetic and strong. At the end of the day, food is fuel for the body! Are we putting in low-quality fuel or premium? If you're struggling through feeling exhausted every day, my biggest advice is to start being mindful of the foods you've eaten and how much water you had to drink on the days you're feeling most tired. So often we put ourselves on the back-burner to be there for others but we're not doing ourselves or our loved ones any favors by not taking care of ourselves. You are a treasure! Make the time to take care of yourself. It's the best thing you can do for those who love you.

There was a time when I would get home exhausted every single day. I suffer from allergies year-round but there are seasons when it's worse. During those months, I'd be exhausted when I got out of bed in the morning. While searching for natural remedies, I discovered a diet called AIP, the Autoimmune Protocol or Paleo, which claimed to help with allergy symptoms. I'll warn you that this diet is hard to follow. I was only able to do it for two weeks so I didn't see the outcome I was looking for but I was shocked to discover that I had so much energy!

If you have any kind of autoimmune disorder, AIP could be the answer for you! If not, maybe it would be reasonable to make a sincere effort to eat more whole foods — fruits, veggies, and protein. Try cutting out dairy, gluten, iodized salt, sugar and most of all corn-syrup. It's in practically all processed foods so you have to pay close attention to the ingredients list. I highly recommend trying one of these diets to see if you notice a change in how you feel after a few weeks.

Making lifestyle changes is most certainly not easy. But, if you can make these new practices a habit, I truly believe you will enjoy a more balanced life with energy to spare!