Energy is a precious commodity. It's what we use to get things done, to work, to think, to get from A to B and to actively engage with our family and friends. When we are low on energy we don't achieve much and we don't feel so good about ourselves. So how can you look after your energy levels and avoid feeling washed out before you're halfway through the day?

The Energy Budget

Energy is like money, once it’s spent we have to earn more. We know that energy is earned by having a healthy diet and enough good quality rest, but what many of us remain unaware of is the fact that we may be squandering our energy, making bad energy investments, or hanging out with expensive company that will spend it fast and leave you with an energy debt.

Setting yourself an energy budget is a good way to keep your body running well without over taxing it.

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Harvard Medical School has just reported that there are now over 15 million American people living with Social Anxiety Disorder. That's a huge amount of suffering individuals, each and every one of them a unique person struggling with genuine anxiety induced symptoms like palpitations, feeling faint or dizzy, shortness of breath, sweating, and fear of losing control in social situations.

Healthline.com recommends 4 Techniques That Really Work to Reduce Stress and Anxiety. The techniques include deep diaphragmatic breathing and gradual relaxation.

Here on Living by Design we have some free relaxation MP3s designed to guide listeners step-by-step through breathing and relaxation exercises - when you're feeling anxious it's hard to figure out how to get calm for yourself and that's why we made these guided MP3's, the idea behind them being that you can listen to them and follow along while you get guidance and support on how to get calm again.

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Welcome to the latest edition of the Living by Design personal development blog carnival. Here's my pick for this edition - thank you to everyone who contributed.

Mike King presents Passion Enhances Productivity posted at Learn This, saying, "This article looks specifically at how passion enhances productivity. This could be in the workplace or in home/personal life, but there are definitely impacts on productivity when a passion is what drives a person in that area. Here are some of the ways that I’ve learned how passion enhances productivity."

Rolf F. Katzenberger presents 3 steps to your Personal Mission Statement posted at Evomend | Timeless resources for personal organization., saying, "Do you need a Personal Mission Statement? What for? If you do it well, the statement will give you orientation, identity, decision support and sound relationships. It takes only 3 steps."

Lori Jewett presents Communication Skills: How to Speak and be Heard posted at Between Us Girls, saying, "Did you ever wonder why nobody seems to listen when you talk? Find out why and what you can do to change that."

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Here in the UK, the Health Food Manufacturer's Association has been looking into how we're doing when it comes to eating the government recommended 5 portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day. After surveying over 3,000 people they found that over 80%  were not following the guidelines and were not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables.

This undernourished lifestyle is big business for the health supplements industry who are finding that millions of adults prefer to supplement their health with vitamin pills rather than eat a balanced diet high in fresh foods.

HFMA nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville has commented that: "With only 15 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men eating the recommended five-a-day fruit and vegetables, it is important that people are trying to keep themselves in good health by using supplements on a daily basis."

I disagree. Ayurveda (the ancient Indian system of health) advises that if we want to stay healthy and posses energy then we should eat that which naturally contains vital energy - or prana. That vital bio-energy is not as readily present in pills and powders as it is in fresh fruit and vegetables eaten as God and nature intended.

If people are lacking fresh foods in their diet, the answer is to find ways of introducing more, ways that are convenient and palatable. When your body is given fruit juices or lightly cooked vegetables it knows instantly what to do with them to benefit you, to keep you strong and give you energy. Swallowing a multi-vitamin tablet with a quick mouthful of water is not the same.

Salad head Photo by: ·Theresa· 

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