31 surprising energy-boosters that aren’t coffee

An instant burst of energy may be as close as your ears. When you massage your ears, you stimulate acupressure points that release energy throughout the body and increase circulation, according to traditional Chinese medicine. You don’t need to use any specific techniques; just spend a minute kneading, rolling, and pulling on your earlobes, then slowly move up to the top of your ear.

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If you’re in the habit of bingeing on Netflix before bed, the blue light emitted by the TV could inhibit your body’s ability to secrete melatonin, a sleep hormone, according to Harvard researchers. To counteract the blue light and safeguard your sleep, try donning glasses with orange lenses before tuning in to Orange Is the New Black. You’ll get better rest and spend less time wondering why you’re so tired.

It might sounds soothing to start your day with a hot shower, but a freezing cold one will increase alertness and give you a powerful burst of energy, according to a report in Medical Daily. The blast of cold water will increase your rate of breathing in response to the shock, and your oxygen intake, heart rate and blood flow will all increase as your body works to keep itself warm. All of these physiological actions work elevate your mood and increase your energy.

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These fuzzy powerhouses are loaded with vitamins and minerals associated with increased energy, such as vitamin C and potassium. In addition, they’re the most nutrient-dense of all the top-27 most consumed fruits. Research shows that eating just two kiwis per day can reduce fatigue and depressive symptoms and boost energy.

Kimberly Snyder, author of The Beauty Detox Foods, recommends something she calls “energy in a spoon.” It’s a tablespoon of bee pollen with coconut oil drizzled over it. Bee pollen is loaded with essential nutrients that have been shown to increase stamina and focus. Coconut oil is made up of Medium Chain Triglicerides (MCTs), which your body can convert to quick energy.

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Your coworkers might think you’ve lost your mind if you do this in an open-plan office, but inversions are a quick way to enhance mental clarity and shake off the blahs. Inversion therapy boosts brain health by increasing blood flow. “If there is increased blood flow to the area, there will be increased bio availability of oxygen and glucose, the two most important metabolic substrates for the brain,” says Dr Karen Koffler, director of Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University.

The thought of mowing the lawn might fill you with dread, but research shows that the smell of fresh-cut grass can ward off mental decline and promote feelings of joy, calm and wellbeing. The feel-good chemicals in grass affect the emotional and memory parts of the brain known as the amygdala and the hippocampus.

Documenting the things you’re grateful for can help you feel refreshed and happier, and it can also help you get better sleep, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Focusing specifically on blessings and gratitude has a positive effect on emotions and interpersonal relationships, the study found.

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If you’re in danger of nodding off at work, slip on a pair of headphones and crank up your favourite playlist. According to a 2011 study reported in the International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, loud music is an effective tool for boosting energy and improving your mental state. As a bonus, happy music triggers positive memories.

Whether or not you believe that it’s the most important meal of the day, there’s solid research to support eating breakfast. A 2009 study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition found that breakfast eaters feel better and are less stressed and more resilient than those who skip breakfast.