With chronic energy drain, you may not necessarily feel the classic signs of exhaustion – like achy muscles or that all-over tired feeling. What you do experience is an increasing lack of get-up-and-go for many of the activities you used to love. Here are some tips to boost your energy levels.

Sleep Tight: Making time for sleep is essential to feeling alert and ready to take on the day. Most people need at least 7-8 hours every night. To help create a restful atmosphere, darken your bedroom regulate room temperature, and use white noise to help induce sleepiness.

Nourish Yourself: Meal timing is another important factor in maintaining energy levels. People often skip meals, and wonder why they are tired in the afternoon. Skipping meals can cause blood sugar swings, often resulting in fatigue. You should eat at least 3 nutritious meals each day with the last meal well before bedtime.

De-stress: One of the biggest energy zappers is stress. Stressors like worry or fear can leave you mentally and physically exhausted. Counter these energy killers by programming more relaxation activities into your day. For many folks, increasing exercise burns off the chemical effects of stress and anger, while others find relief in quiet pursuits such as listening to music, reading a great book, or even just talking on the phone.

Keep Moving: Increasing physical activity actually increases energy. The key is to focus on daily physical activity and not just “exercise!” Scrub, dig, shovel, walk, play, ride or wheel through your day.

Get Some Sun: The body makes vitamin D after exposure to sun, which can help with higher physical performance and improved mood. Try to get 10 minutes of unprotected exposure to the sun at least 3 times a week.