I know some of you disagree with that statement. Most us have lives that are crowded, stressful, and tiring, and there still aren't enough hours in the day for all we need to do. But running on empty is not the answer and if you try it for too long, you're liable to wind up truly ill. A physical or emotional breakdown really is Life's way of saying, "Enough already!!

When you wake feeling just as tired (or worse!!) than when you went to sleep, when you have no energy to make it through the day, when you feel constantly drained and listless, when you are short-tempered, hypersensitive, and feel like if one more thing pulls at your attention or goes wrong you are going to totally lose it, it's clearly time to stop and consider the load you're carrying and what your lifestyle is doing to your health.

There are some easy ways to boost your energy, but without a total overhaul in the way you run a hectic, overly demanding, and physically depleting life, they are only stopgaps . and need to be viewed that way -- as temporary measures. But they can help leverage you into better situations overall. For sure, they're worth trying.

It takes total honesty, real determination, and self-discipline to make some of these changes. But they can be literal lifesavers. Honest.

1. Get enough sleep. Four hours is not enough. Six should be considered a bare minimum every night . and eight is even better. If you need more than eight hours of sleep routinely, you might be wise to consider the possibility you are dealing with undiagnosed depression. An honest talk with a doctor who is willing to hear what you tell him or her could be the best favor you've done for yourself in a long time.

2. Develop a regular exercise routine. Regular exercise relieves stress and you do not have to kill yourself to get decent results. A brisk half-hour's walk in the evenings or on the other half of your lunch hour several times a week will bring wonderful results. Start slowly, work up to it, but keep at it.

3. Eat properly. Sugar, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, and grease are not the five basic food groups. I don't care what your college roommate, old Army buddy, or next door neighbor kid taught you.

4. If you smoke, stop it!!! If you drink, do so in moderation. Drinking small amounts of alcohol daily is actually better for you than being a strict-tee-totaller, according to a number of medical studies, but a six-pack a day is not moderation. Neither is "tying one on" every Saturday night.

5. Meditate. Fifteen minutes a day is great. Fifteen minutes twice a day is better. As with eating and exercising, do it every day. Do it every chance you get.

6. Learn to say "No." We get "nickel and dimed" to death by the little tasks, chores, favors, commitments, and "stuff" we agree to load on ourselves. When someone asks you to wedge one more little thing into your life, say, "I'm sorry. No. I can't." Stick to your decision. Otherwise, I promise you, you'll wind up in "chronic overload" all the time.

7. Identify the conditions in your life that are continually and excessively stressful. Learn to eliminate or avoid them. Since these situations can be many and varied, it may take some ingenuity to deal with them. But consider these possibilities. Stop being a perfectionist. Don't try to be all things to all people. Quit expecting to please everyone. Avoid people who habitually nag, criticize, argue with you, or get under your skin. See if you can delegate things that upset you to someone who is less sensitive or not as close to the situation. If you can, hire help to take on the jobs you don't have to do yourself. Learn to shrug off the "small stuff" and get on with your life.

8. Plan moments of relaxation. Take some time for yourself. Take a long hot bath with candles all around. Listen to music. Take an hour to read something purely for pleasure. (If you can't do that take half an hour. Try to work up to that hour somehow!!) Go for a long drive in the country. Cuddle with your sweetie. Sit and pet your dog or cat. (If it's a big dog sit on the floor and do it!! Pets are fabulous stress reducers!) Investigate aromatherapy and see if it works for you! Put a table-top fountain in your bedroom or office or both! (One where you can hear the rippling and movement of the water.)

9. Give yourself rewards just for getting through the day, week, month, in one piece. Make them meaningful. Make them something you really want. Keep your promises to yourself. (Don't ever tell yourself you're not important enough or that it doesn't matter whether or not you do this for yourself.)

10. Listen to the way you think. Listen to the way you talk to yourself. If you are constantly thinking how bad you feel, how tired you are, how you don't know if you can make it another step, how much you hate your job, life will continue to hand you this version of reality. If you are constantly nagging at yourself, criticizing yourself, or insisting that you "do more, do better, do it faster," no wonder you're tired all the time. Start treating (and talking to) yourself with at least as much respect and courtesy as you give to other people.

Try this list of behavior changes for a month. See if there's not a refreshed, more pleasant, more joyful life (and person) waiting to greet you at the end of that time. You and your loved ones may all be glad you did.

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