Written by health contributor Lisa Byrne of The Well-Grounded Life.

Do you feel exhausted at the end of your day? Do you need that first cup of coffee in the morning to “get going?” Do you experience dips in your energy mid-morning or mid-afternoon?

If your answer is yes, read on, because your body is telling you something important.

When our bodies are running well, we wake up refreshed. Our energy levels stay replenished throughout the day, and we have the same amount of energy at the end of the day as we do in the morning. We don’t need to rely on energy crutches — like a morning cup of coffee — to get through the day. Our systems are nourished with true forms of energy and are running in top condition.

But many of us rely on “energy loans” to get us through the day.

Caffeine, sugar and nicotine keep us running, but they do so at a high cost, and for only so long. These temporary lifts will always leave us depleted because they are like a bank loaning out money at high interest.

We use these “energy loans” to get us through our immediate energy needs, but end up straddled with the “debt” of exhaustion at the end of the day. When these crutches are used over a long period of time, the cycle spirals and our body never has a chance to catch up on sustainable energy or to restore and repair itself.

How do we stop this cycle and begin to nourish and care for our bodies so they are full of vibrant energy all day, throughout the day?

Here are 16 ways to begin to bring more energy into your day.

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The following is written by health columnist Lisa Byrne of The Well Grounded Life.

It happens every year.

Right about now, the gyms that were once hopping on Jan 2 are getting quieter and quieter. The brand new yoga pants are spending more time in the closet than in class.  And ice cream sales are back up to their normal rates.

But of course, we know not everyone loses steam on their health goals after the new year.

Some people are on track to running their first 5K.  Others are having a blast exploring new, delicious and healthy meals that their whole family enjoys. And a few are getting up 15 minutes early every morning for some soul-quiet time before they start the day.

What’s the difference between the people who fizzle out early, and those that stay the course to reach their goals?

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The following is written by health columnist Lisa Byrne of The Well Grounded Life.

I notice the changes each year as the days get shorter.  I feel more tired and sluggish during the day, my patience wears a bit more thin, irritability intensifies, and there is a distinct lull and lethargy about my moods.

I know now that I am simply feeling the impact of a mild form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can be termed as the “winter blues.”

There are simple, natural ways to help alleviate the symptoms of SAD.

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Soon after beginning my health counseling work, I noticed that, for many women, setting goals and dreaming big (especially with health goals) was laced with feelings of inadequacy and doubt from past failures.

Every time that they pumped themselves up to reach a goal but didn’t succeed, a little part of them began to doubt their own ability to actual make positive changes.  The disappointments left them feeling overwhelmed and defeated.

It’s like being caught between a rock and a hard place.   We want to experience healthy, positive changes and set big goals and visions for our life, but feel afraid of repeating the same failed attempts and disappointment again, so we shrink down and temper our dreams.

In my experience, these three core issues need to be addressed in order for real success to happen when we set big, juicy, delicious goals for our life.

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