Personal trainer Jim Karas, author of The 7 Day Energy Surge, shares four simple strategies to help fend off fatigue.
1. Swap Energy Drinks for Water
Caffeine fires up fight-or-flight hormones (like adrenaline), which can give you a temporary energy boost, but when those hormones wear off, your energy crashes.

2. Stay Active
One study from the University of Georgia found that when sleep-deprived people hit the gym, their perceived energy increased by 20 percent and their fatigue was reduced by 65 percent.

3. Take a Cold Shower
If that sounds too torturous, try ending your morning shower with a spray of cold water—it can be incredibly invigorating. Research from the London-based Thrombosis Research Institute found that cold water improved participants' blood circulation and offered them renewed vigor.

4. Crank Up the Tunes
"Music can ease anxiety while improving sleep and mental focus," says Karas. He advises listening to upbeat music in the morning or whenever your energy levels are flagging and playing something soothing at night. When Karas helped working mom Patty Lopez-Pullman recharge, she created this energy-maximizing playlist:

To Get Up and Go:
"Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" (Lady Gaga)
"Meet Me Halfway" (Black Eyed Peas)
"The Reflex" (Duran Duran)
"West End Girls" (Pet Shop Boys)

For Running Errands:
"Rio" (Duran Duran)
"Hung Up" (Madonna)
"Hold Me Now" (Thompson Twins)
"Remember the Time" (Michael Jackson)

To Wind Down at Night:
"The Very Thought of You" (Billie Holiday)
"Fly Away" (Lenny Kravitz)
"Watermark" (Enya)



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