At this time of year when temperatures are soaring and the festive spirit is abundant, it’s easy to feel drained, tired and fatigued. The ‘silly season’ – although a time for fun and celebration – can also be quite a stressful experience for some, only adding to fatigue.

The good news is that there are a few all-natural ways to beat the slump and boost your energy this summer. Tap into the power of these natural energy pick-me-ups now to feel your best in the New Year:

1. Antioxidants
We often push ourselves to the extent where we may end up functioning in overdrive, resulting in depletion of key antioxidants in our body. Antioxidants are vital for not only powering our cells, but mopping up ‘free radicals’, which wreak havoc on our bodies by causing inflammation. Ubiquinol is the active (more readily absorbed) form of CoQ10, a powerful antioxidant that is found naturally in the body. Its role is to assist in powering the body’s overall energy levels as well as supporting the health of major organs, including the heart. If you have consistent feelings of fatigue, Ubiquinol supplements may help to support your natural energy levels to function at your prime. It has also been shown in studies to reduce inflammation after exercise and boost athletic performance.

2. Early exercise
Hitting the footpath in the morning will get your blood pumping through your body, which will help awaken your cells to generate energy. It’s also means your exercise is done for the day – and so you’re less likely to cancel your exercise plans (due to fatigue, exhaustion or other social commitments that pop up over the summer). It may take some time to set your body clock, but once you’re up, there are few distractions to start your workout. Exercising too close to down time may also impact how well you sleep as your body is still pumping blood and oxygen to your organs when it should be resting.

3. Eat a Hearty Breakfast
Having something substantial to eat or drink first thing in the morning – including a good dose of protein and healthy fats – means kick-starting your metabolism and moving it out of the ‘starvation’ mode it has been in overnight. Fasting overnight depletes our glucose stores, and without replenishing these at breakfast time, we’ll lack energy to start the day. Opt for an omelette with some avocado on toast, or oatmeal with a good selection of nuts, full-fat natural yoghurt and small serve of fruit.

4. Matcha
Matcha is a special type of green tea with 137 times the antioxidants of regular green tea. It promotes improved memory, blood flow around the body and is naturally caffeinated, making it an awesome alternative to that third cup of coffee in the afternoon which is more likely to leave you experiencing an energy crash. Remember not to consume matcha within six hours of bedtime, to help ensure you get a good night’s sleep.

5. Recovery
You probably hear this one all the time, but getting seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night is vital to how we function. Unfortunately, many of us don’t receive our much-needed sleep per night, which leads to a deficit in sleep that is difficult to recover from. Sleep must be taken seriously; too much or too little have health implications. Consider sleep as a detox for your brain – sleeping, not just resting, restores and replenishes your body allowing for overall improved performance.

Speak to your health practitioner before adding a supplement to your diet.