Energy Boosts:

1. Reach for energy food
Instead of sugar (candy bar!) eat a healthy snack containing protein (nuts, seeds, milk products) and a complex carbohydrate (whole grains, legumes, starchy veggies). Like a peanut butter sandwich on whole-grain bread. The combination of protein and complex carbs gives your body energy longer.

2. Eat a high-carb, high-fiber breakfast
To boost the fiber and carbs in your first meal of the day, select such foods as whole-wheat toast or high-fiber cereal. Aim for 25 to 30 grams of total fiber daily.

3. Take breaks
Taking a short break and doing absolutely nothing for a few minutes can help you overcome fatigue and actually get more done in the course of a day, says Jon Gordon, a Florida-based consultant who advises corporations and athletes on how to stay energized. One short break of 5 or 10 minutes or even less can boost your energy immediately, and making break time a habit can keep your energy up long-term, he says. Researchers from LSU found that workers who took four breaks per hour, usually just 30 seconds each, followed by a 14-minute break after two hours of sitting at the computer, reported higher performance and worked faster and more accurately than their co-workers.

4. Get moving
For an instant energy boost, drop out of your busy life for 10 minutes and hit the road, or the hallways of your office. "Walking is an energizer," says Gordon. Even a 10-minute walk can help you overcome feelings of fatigue. Research suggests that exercise works better than sugar.

5. Take 5 and meditate
Numerous studies have demonstrated the fatigue-fighting effects of meditation, but there's no need to light candles, sit cross-legged, or learn a mantra. Mini-meditation can work wonders, says Judith Orloff, MD, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA. Any quiet place in your home or office will do, Orloff says. You can even use the office bathroom for an instant energy boost.

6. Ditch the energy vampires
For life long-term energy increases, experts suggest surrounding yourself with positive people whenever possible. Of course, you can't always avoid some negative people. More than just mood; some people can make you feel so stressed in their presence that they cause a stress reaction in your body (energy vampires). Stress is the biggest culprit.