4 ways TO BOOST YOUR ENERGY!

Beat the winter blues and power up your day

- ALICIA PIKE AND KYLIE WALTERS

1 FUEL YOUR BODY WITH SMART CARBS

When you need to keep your energy from flagging, ignore your chocolate stash in favour of a bowl of porridge with yoghurt and berries, or a chicken and salad sandwich on brown bread for longer-lasting get-up-and-go.

"Carbohydrates are the main source of energy in your diet, so be sure to include at least two serves of wholegrains, such as oats, rice or wholegrain bread each day," says accredited practising dietitian Melanie McGrice, who adds that we should be careful to watch portion sizes.

"One serve of carbohydrates is equivalent to 30g oats, half a cup of cooked rice or one slice of bread - be careful not to eat too many carbs at once, since overdoing it can impact your serotonin hormones and make you sleepy," she cautions.

2 AVOID DRAINING COMPANY

No-one is happy all the time, but steering clear of the negative Nellies in your life is a guaranteed way to have more verve I vim.

Whether it's the office busybody wanting an in-depth gossip session, or a whingeing neighbour detailing every ache and pain in their body, these types of people are often referred to as "energy vampires" because they seem to suck the life out of you.

Instead, surround yourself with friends and family who make you feel lively, uplifted and leave you wanting more. Develop a solid getaway plan for anytime you are cornered by one of the vampires in your life.

Try making a show of checking the time, then swiftly explain that they'll need to give you the two-minute version of whatever is troubling them because there's something else you need to attend to.