10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Energy in Under 10 Minutes
Christian St-PierreWe all have those moments when our energy suddenly drops — usually in the afternoon.
I don’t know about you, but for a long time, my reflex was always the same:
→ coffee
→ sugar
→ or the energy drink hiding in the fridge.
And yes… it works. But it lasts 20 minutes. After that, you crash even harder.
I eventually realized that what I was looking for wasn’t a quick boost — but something that kept me from sinking again. Because the goal isn’t to be overstimulated, just to have enough energy to feel good, think clearly, and keep moving.
Over time (and many afternoons where it felt like I had a sandbag on my head 😅), I learned that simple little actions made all the difference. No need for a gym membership, a complicated supplement routine, or a perfect daily ritual.
Just simple actions — easy to do anywhere.
Some of these ideas were suggested to me, others I discovered by accident, and a few have simply become my go-to moves when my battery hits the red zone.
And honestly: they help.
So here are 10 small, simple actions — nothing weird — that you can try starting today.
You may find that, with the right little “fine-tuning,” energy comes back more easily than you’d think.
(Personally, I use at least 2–3 of these every day… and it genuinely changes the feeling of the second half of the day.)
1) Eat a real breakfast
For a long time, I skipped breakfast. I told myself I wasn’t hungry in the morning… until I realized it was mostly because I’d simply gotten used to running on empty.
Every time I left the house with just a coffee, around 10:30 a.m. I hit a little wall:
foggy head, impatience, zero focus.
Since I’ve been eating something simple — oatmeal, toast with nut butter, yogurt — my energy has been more stable. No magic, just fuel.
When you eat breakfast, you’re less tired, less stressed. And if you skip it, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll feel it pretty quickly.
Nothing fancy: just eat a little something in the morning → it really helps.
2) Stretch / simple posture
Just to be clear: I’m not a yoga pro. But I’ve noticed that a simple stretch can completely change how I feel — especially when my energy dips.
“Downward dog” (or even just reaching up toward the ceiling and breathing slowly) gets the blood moving and wakes up the brain. Nothing mystical: you breathe better → your body gets more oxygen → your mind clears up.
When I feel that heaviness arriving, I stand up and stretch for 30–60 seconds… and honestly, it gets the system going again faster than an espresso.
It’s one of those things we forget to do… but it really works.
3) Put on a song you love
It’s crazy how much a song can change the energy of a room… and your mind. You don’t have to sing well (for me, it’s mostly in the car 😅), but just playing a song you truly love — ideally something that makes you move — changes everything.
There’s something automatic about it: music lifts you up, brings you back, and helps you disconnect from what’s draining you. You breathe a little easier, your shoulders drop, and you find yourself smiling without even thinking about it.
So when I feel my energy dipping, I put one on. Just one. Most of the time, that’s enough to get going again.
4) Drink a glass of water
We underestimate how much a lack of water can hit us. I’m not talking about drinking 3 liters a day — just… one glass of water.
Often, when I start to feel heavy, foggy, a little “off,” I realize I’ve barely had anything to drink since the morning. Two sips and you can already feel your body waking up.
A simple indicator: if your urine is dark, you’re already behind. No need to be a scientist to get that. It’s the simplest trick… and yet we forget it all the time.
5) A handful of nuts
When I get hungry in the middle of the day, a small handful of almonds or peanuts makes a big difference. No need to pull out a scale — just grab what fits in your hand, and that’s it.
Why does it work? Nuts are full of magnesium and folate — two things your body needs to produce energy. When you’re low on them, it’s surprising how tired you can feel for no real reason… almost like your body is running on empty.
I’m not saying it’s miraculous, but often, that tiny snack is enough to get me back on my feet without falling into the sugar trap.
6) Smell peppermint (or rosemary)
I figured this one out kind of by accident. While digging through research on essential oils, I kept seeing peppermint and rosemary mentioned for “waking up” the mind. I was skeptical… but I tried it, and wow — it switches things on.
Peppermint especially gives you that fresh little jolt in the head. Rosemary is more subtle, but it really clears things up. It’s a bit like someone opening a window inside your brain.
I’m not saying it replaces coffee, but when your energy drops, it gives a quick little “kick” — without the jitters.
If you have peppermint essential oil handy, or even some fresh rosemary, take a deep breath — it’s worth trying.
7) Move — even just a little
As soon as I start feeling that familiar slump, I know that staying seated will only make things worse. Moving — even just a little — changes everything.
No need to put on running shoes. I stand up, walk during a call, do a loop around the house, go up the stairs… and right away, I can feel things start to flow again.
You give your body a bit of oxygen, your brain follows, and the energy comes back faster than you’d think. Even 5 to 10 minutes is enough to break through that heavy feeling that settles in.
It’s often that tiny bit of movement that gets everything going again.
8) Go outside / sunlight
Since I got Polo, my dog, I don’t really have a choice anymore: I go out for a walk twice a day, rain or shine. He’s as regular as a clock — when it’s time, it’s time. And honestly… it has done me a world of good.
Just stepping outside shifts your mood almost instantly. You walk, you breathe a little, and you can feel the internal engine starting up again. Even on days when I’d clearly go nowhere if I were alone, it’s Polo pulling me outside… and I always come back feeling better than when I left.
Natural light wakes up your brain, sharpens focus, and puts your thoughts back in order. No need for a full hike — 5 minutes is already something.
And if you really can’t go out, opening the curtains or sitting near a window is already a first step.
It’s like your mind breathes better when it sees the sky.
9) Keep a smart snack nearby
I learned this one the hard way: if I let my blood sugar drop too low, I get slow… and a little grumpy 😅 Your brain runs on glucose, so when levels fall, fog is guaranteed.
Having a snack on hand prevents that. Not something ultra-sweet (otherwise you’ll crash right after), but a mix of protein + slow carbs.
My go-tos:
→ banana + peanut butter
→ yogurt + a bit of granola
It’s quick to make, it tastes good, and most importantly: it keeps your energy going longer, without the crash. Bottom line — it’s better to be ready than to end up eating anything just because your energy tank hit empty too fast.
10) Take a good bath
When I’m really drained — not just tired, but with nothing left in the tank — a bath is my reset. I close the door, fill the tub, and already, the warmth shifts something. It’s like the body remembers how to breathe.
I eventually started creating my own botanical baths, because I wanted something that helped me truly unwind: not an aggressive perfume, not an artificial explosion… just a simple blend that soothes, warms, and gently brings you back.
I’m not trying to get out of the bath “fully charged.”
What it does is better:
→ it loosens me up
→ it puts my thoughts back where they belong
→ and it gives me a calm, usable kind of energy
What I love most is that it’s a ritual without performance. There’s nothing to achieve: you sit, you breathe, and you let it happen.
If you’d like to try the one I use, I’ll leave the link here:
We often think we need something spectacular to get our energy back… when really, it’s the small repeated gestures that make the difference: eating a bit in the morning, stretching, listening to a song, getting some fresh air, smart snacking, drinking water, talking to someone positive…
Individually, they’re nothing. Together, they make a real difference.
The goal isn’t to become superhuman. It’s simply to regain just enough presence to move through your day without fighting your own body or mind.
If you try one or two of these ideas and they help you restart a little smoother —
mission accomplished.
