Boost your summer ENERGY

Short on get-up-and-go, even though the sun is shining? Here’s what might be causing your summer slump – and how to fix it

- TANYA PEAREY

Summer’s here! But do you have the energy to enjoy it? Brits spend two hours and 56 minutes* a day feeling drained, which is more than 20 hours each week. ‘People going to their GP saying they are ‘tired all the time’ is so common that it even has its own acronym: TATT,’ says Dr Annabel Bentley, chief medical officer at AXA PPP Healthcare. And, with only 8%** of us waking up feeling refreshed each day, it’s no wonder we’re tired of being tired. Here’s how to get more energy for summer, naturally.

You’re drinking too late

Lighter evenings can make it tempting to indulge in a glass or two of wine in the garden. But, sadly, that al fresco tipple could be stealing your energy. ‘Drinking alcohol close to bedtime may cause you to miss out on the first rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep – vital for that refreshed feeling in the morning,’ says sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan. ‘You’re also more likely to need the loo in the night and wake dehydrated.’ Try a milky beverage instead. The protein alpha-lactalbumin in milk will improve alertness the following day.

Your bedroom is too hot