45 Awesome Ways to Get Eco-Energized at Work

Need a lift? I don't blame you. It's Wednesday, otherwise not-so-affectionately referred to as "hump day" among worker-bees across the land.

Before your bleary eyes reach for another cup of joe, why not try one of these 45 green ways to get a natural energy boost? I found these fun tips from Lifehacker via Zen Habits but did what I felt was right by sprucing them up to be a bit more environmentally sound than their original counterparts.

If you find one of utility let me know in the comments below!

1. Rock out. Close your office door—or do it inconspicuously in your cube. Put on your iTunes and boogies down to a song. The three-minute jam session will do your back—and body—good.

2. Kiss allergies goodbye by kissing stress goodbye.

3. Work with your body. Mid-morning is one of one our bodies most energetic times of the day so take advantage of it and use the time to knock out e-mails and other work duties.

4. Indulge in a square or two of organic, fair trade dark chocolate. Enjoy the endorphin rush and the tiny caffeine boost.

5. Power up on a mid-day snack. A few hours after lunch, munch on a low-sugar, high-protein snack like nuts, yogurt or a granola bar.

6. Keep organic berries desk-side. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries all contain powerful anti-oxidants and keep you feeling refreshed. Bonus points, if the berries are local.

7. Dress-up in a red blouse or orange top. Bright colors help boost your mood. If you wardrobe scales on the side of blasé, hit up a thrift shop for a colorful find.

8. Take a cat nap. Sit upright in your chair and close your eyes for 5-10 minutes.

9. Find a cute, colleague and flirt. Keep it innocent, of course, otherwise you might have HR on your heels. But an old fashioned batting of the eyelashes or friendly compliment will get your heart pumping.

10. Stash a bottle of certified-organic lavender oil in your desk. Give yourself a relaxing whiff whenever times get tough.

11. Set the alarm clock for the same time everyday—including weekends. Doing this, keeps your internal body clock working properly so you don't find yourself snoozing in front of your boss.

12. Drink lots of tap water. Keeping your body hydrated will keep fatigue at bay and keep all your organs working in accord. Keep a cute cup on your desk to make sipping more fun.

13. Lay off the caffeine. A cup or two or organic, fair trade java in the early morning is fine but anything later can send your body crashing—or up late at night. Listen to your body. Or try out this refreshing lemon drink, instead!

14. Skip energy drinks and their dubious ingredients. Grab a Kombucha tea.

15. Replace simple, refined carbohydrates (white rice, potatoes and soda) with complex carbs like whole wheat bread, brown rice, and quinoa.

16. Increase your fiber with foods like nuts, grains, fruit, veggies and beans. These help prevent sugar highs and crashes so you can stay sustained.

17. Snack on an orange or grapefruit. Vitamin C fights fatigue and the scent stimulates alertness.

18. Eat a well-balanced diet to get energy-boosting B vitamins. Bananas, avocadoes, spinach and lean protein like eggs all contain Bs.

19. If you're still smoking—stop! Nicotine interrupts sound sleep and can leave you feeling cranky and tired the next day.

20. Play. Give yourself five or so minutes to play Scrabble online. Just don't get sucked in!

21. Make meals small and frequent. Big meals have the tendency to leave us in food coma. Think: post-Thanksgiving lethargy.

22. Drink tea. Organic, fair trade Tulsi tea in particular contains anti-stress compounds.

23. Hit the bathroom sink and splash a quick handful of water on your face. Bring along your own washcloth to avoid using paper towel.

24. Simplify your desk space. Minimalism is inherently green—so avoid accumulating stuff by pawning off chotchkies and other un-needed office supplies to your colleagues.

25. Don't sweat the small stuff. We've got the world to save. Obsessing over that one, single e-mail won't get us anywhere.

26. Give yourself a mental health day. If you haven't used up any sick or vacation days, use one to un-wind in whatever way you'd like. You'll go back to work more productive.

27. Make breakfast your most important meal of the day. This will avoid lunch-runs to so-not-green fast food joint.

28. Reach for protein. Foods like beans, tofu, free-range eggs or chicken will keep you feeling more satisfied, longer.

29. Eat green to lose weight. Shaving off a few pounds (if you need to, of course) can leave you feeling lighter and less tired.

30. Put on some music. Classical, rock, or jazz—whatever your taste is—music will help keep you motivated.

31. Fit in an eco-friendly exercise routine. Walking, running and hiking are just a few green options.

32. Cut out stress by identifying its cause and then take action. For example, if your Thursday post-work volunteer-ship is becoming more work than it's worth—consider removing it from your schedule.

33. Get down, get down. Josh explains best here.

34. Prioritize your to-do list. Figure out what things are absolutely, necessary to keep on, and which ones can get chopped.

35. That mid-day pint at the pub with your colleagues is fun in theory but will leave you drowsy the rest of the day. Avoid it altogether.

36. Get a message. Use your lunch break for one-hour rub down that will leaving you feeling at light as a feather.

37. Dress up. When you look your best, you feel your best. Need to jazz up your wardrobe? Make it sustainable.

38. Swap out your pre-bedtime glass of wine with a mug of organic, fair trade chamomile tea. Alcohol reduces the chance of a good night's sleep.

39. Take a walk. Hit the sidewalk for a dose of refreshing, fresh air and some natural scenery. The sun's natural radiance will wake you up and you'll have the change to clear your head.

40. Keep some organic yogurt in the office fridge. The low-fat snack contains probiotics which keeps the body working well.

41. Laugh. Share awkward work scenarios with your best work pals. It's a surefire way to lighten your mood.

42. Do yoga. This all-around stress reliever also happens to help get your body in celebrity-style shape.

43. Become a fan of the incredible, edible egg. This protein-packed (and thus energy-boosting) snack works as a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner. Embrace its versatility.

44. Get your Zzz's. If you feel your eyelids get heavy, or your head nod off during daylight hours, it probably means your sleep deprived. 7-8 hours per night is a good amount to aim for.

45. Go out with friends. Regular social activities have been linked to greater health and happiness in humans. Get out and go play!

Read the full energy-boosting list over at Zen Habits.

::Lifehacker via Zen Habits