It took a minute for the concept of “energy efficiency” to catch on and become a mainstream byline. Now, we have cars that can get more than 100 MPGe, appliances built to conserve resources (like washers that can conserve 7,000 gallons of water a year), and home improvements (like replacing windows) which can save both money and increase home energy efficiency.

But with so much attention being directed at maximizing energy efforts on inanimate objects, it’s incredibly easy to neglect generating energy efficiency where it arguably matters most: our own bodies.

Why is efficiently caring for our bodies important?

Inefficiently caring for our bodies leads to a malady of health-related predicaments, including feeling consistently fatigued. Repeatedly feeling drained can lead to sedentary tendencies, as well as the inclination to reach for extra sugary or heavily caffeinated (or a mix of both!) foods and drinks. It’s not difficult to see how this downward spiral can contribute to physical, mental, and emotional health issues.

Where do we start?

There are multiple factors that contribute to keeping our bodies running in prime condition. Perhaps the most important include a healthy diet, proper rest, and daily physical activity.

Healthy Diet

There is a significant difference between eating to satisfy our bodies, and eating to fuel our bodies. That custard filled, chocolate-glazed donut may (beautifully) satiate our taste buds, but it’s not going to do much for our bodies nutritionally (although it’s horribly tempting to count the presence of eggs and milk in the pastry as “valid” nutritional benefits…).  

Eating food for fuel, mental acuity, and overall body wellness is remarkably uncomplicated—our bodies are pretty straightforward. Avoid refined sugars (and excessive amounts of sugar in general) and flours, as well as over-processed products (#ripPopTarts). Instead, embrace a fresh, clean diet and stick to seasonal produce and ethically sourced meats. There are countless resources for mouth-watering, health boosting recipes. Some simple, yummy starter ones can be found here and here. Additionally, make sure to space your meals and snacks about 2-3 hours apart in order to keep your energy and metabolism running all day.

Keeping hydrated is another key factor; our bodies love water. Again, avoid sugar and fat laden drinks and instead, opt for good ol’ high quality H2O.  Add lemon or lime for a welcome flavor boost. One of dehydrations most tell-tale symptoms is fatigue, so drink up!

Proper Rest

Our bodies do an incredible amount of work throughout the day, and in return, they deserve some quality rest and recuperation time. Running our bodies into the ground is not running them efficiently (it is, in fact, the antithesis). Aim for getting roughly 8 hours of shut eye per night (obviously, this is not always achievable, but work to get as close to this number as possible).

With “quality” being the key word in the aforementioned paragraph, make sure to shut out any and all distractions in order to get the best sleep. Don’t scroll through Instagram; put your phone on silent (save for your alarm) and put it out of sight. Turn off the TV, shut off the lights, draw the curtains, and give your mind a chance to unwind.

Avoid eating or drinking caffeine too close to bedtime, as it can cause indigestion or an unwanted energy surge. Keep your bedroom a couple degrees cooler than the rest of your home, as a brisk room promotes better sleep.

Daily Physical Activity

When you look at the anatomy of the human body, it’s clear that we were designed to be active. Sitting idly for hours on end does us few (if any) real favors. While we can site many reasons to for our lack of daily physical activity (sedentary jobs, Netflix, poor weather, etc.) there are far more legitimate reasons to get up off of our seats and do something. From walking to biking to swimming to chasing your kids at the park, find a way to motivate yourself to get moving.

Before beginning any diet or exercise regimen, make sure to consult your physician. Once you have your doctor’s blessing, aim for getting at least 30 minutes to an hour of physical exercise per day. This can be broken up into blocks of time in order to accommodate your daily schedule; however, 30 constant minutes of aerobic activity have been shown to provide the most overall benefits.

Consistency is key here; the more you put your body in motion, the more your body will positively respond. Endorphins, happy little neurotransmitters released when you exercise, will give you an energy and mood boost that can last for hours. Try to make inactive days the exception, not the norm, and be ready to reap the benefits!

Running like a well-oiled machine

When we take a moment to conscientiously think about how we are treating our bodies, and what we are putting into them, it becomes evident the being efficient is key. We can’t pump our bodies full of empty calories and expect optimal performance in return. We need to be deliberate with how we fuel our bodies, making sure that what we eat, how we play and how we rest are all targeted at improving our well-being. If we want our bodies to run like well-oiled machines, we need to provide them with the best fuel and maintenance.