(ThyBlackMan.com) Energy drives life forward: from the energy of the sun that fuels biological life on earth to the energy that makes a seed grow into a plant or an embryo into a human being.
After the advent of the industrial revolution, we began to think of energy as the fuel that powers our machines; and in our current era, we have begun to think of energy as some kind of thermal, radiant, kinetic, chemical, nuclear, or gravitational force. Still, from a personal, practical point of view, it’s not even important to have a working definition of energy, because we are all intuitively aware that it is essential for us to do anything, whether it’s as mundane as doing our weekly grocery shopping or a spectacular as running a four-minute mile.
When you’re feeling tired and want to take a nap, your physiology is in a state of potential energy; if, however, you decide to exercise instead, like going for a brisk walk, then you’ll find yourself 
miraculously rejuvenated. While you’ll probably attribute your transformation to fresh air, sunshine, improved blood circulation, or a mood lift, from the point of a physicist, you have transformed potential energy into kinetic energy.
4 Ways to Increase Your Energy
Since an abundance of energy will improve the quality of your life, it’s essential that you seriously consider natural ways to enhance your physical energy. When you get enough sleep, eat a proper diet, and get enough exercise, you’ll experience mental clarity and positive emotions because you’ll be converting some of your potential energy into kinetic energy. You also might discover that you spontaneously get along better with other people and are far more proactive in getting things done.
1. Get enough sleep.
Ensure you get enough sleep by eating foods rich in magnesium before you go to sleep like spinach, chard, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, or kefir. Turn off or turn down any electronic devices in your bedroom. Also, try to keep the room dark, this will help with the stimulation of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Usually firm mattresses and soft pillows make it easier for your body to relax deeply.
The Harmful Effects of Sleep Deprivation
If you’re not getting enough sleep every night, then your body doesn’t have enough time for cellular repair. Consequently, you’ll not only feel lethargic, but sleep deprivation will also affect your cognitive functioning. This “brain fog” occurs because your brain does not have enough time to remove waste metabolites. While your body clears toxic waste products through the lymphatic system, the brain does not have this advantage when it comes to metabolite clearance. Consequently, it’s necessary for cerebrospinal fluid to recirculate through your brain, interchange with interstitial fluid, and remove accumulated interstitial proteins.
2. Proper diet.
After you’ve improved the quality of your sleep, the next most important thing to do is to get a good diet. Ideally, see a nutritionist to decide on the best diet for you. They may be able to identify any food allergies you have or any malnutrition you may be experiencing. In many cases, food allergies and malnutrition are subtle. Although you don’t feel well, you’re not sure why you feel out-of-sorts.
A nutritionist will also help you eat clean—that is, avoid foods loaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives, and food dyes that are somewhat toxic.
3. Sufficient exercise.
The type of exercise you should do depends on your age and your current level of fitness. Find exercises that you like that can help improve flexibility, endurance, and physical strength.
It’s advisable to gradually increase how much you do based on your time and energy. If you go all out, you’ll suffer strains, injuries, and soreness and will quickly lose any interest in exercising at all.
4. Get a checkup.
Finally, if improving the quality of your sleep, fine-tuning your diet, and exercising moderately does not increase your energy levels, then consider visiting a doctor.
Energy and Success in Life
Expanding on this idea of improving your well-being even further, the real difference between someone who is thriving in life and someone who is struggling to meet their basic needs may be the amount of directed, focused energy the successful person has available to make things happen. Without sufficient vitality, people often feel sluggish and apathetic. Consequently, someone with low vitality may often appear to lack drive–which is the energy necessary to will, plan, and act in a constructive way to resolve pressing life problems.
Staff Writer; Kelvin Lowe