The next time you feel drained, trade thoughts like "I wish I weren’t…" with more upbeat ones like "I’m grateful I am.…" The reason: Downbeat thinking triggers the release of energy-draining stress hormones, say experts at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Replacing a negative with a positive can rev up energy in a mere two minutes!

Recharger #2: Take a time-out from high-tech

Gadgets like cell phones, faxes and computers raise fatigue for the more than half of Americans who use them five days a week, say researchers at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. The problem: "These distracting and often noisy items increase cortisol, a stress hormone that overstimulates the nervous system, leaving you
tired and draggy," explains Shawn Talbott, Ph.D., author of The Cortisol Connection. To combat the problem, take two 20-minute breaks from the racket daily, which can slash stress hormone production by 50 percent, notes Talbott.

Recharger #3: Stop and smell the flowers

Floral scents boost the brain’s production of beta waves, electrical impulses that can increase energy levels by 25 percent in just one minute, according to studies at Chicago’s Smell & Taste Research Foundation. And this effect can last as long as 30 minutes. "While we don’t know why, we do know it works," says lead researcher Alan Hirsch, M.D. Keep your favorite blooms at home, and take a whiff whenever you need a pick-me-up.

Recharger #4: Go into slow motion

Two minutes of effortless motion, like pacing while on the phone, can skyrocket energy by 50 percent for over an hour, says Susan M. Lark, M.D., co-author of The Chemistry of Success: Six Secrets of Peak Performance. "That’s because this motion raises your heart rate, boosting the flow of energizing, oxygen-rich blood to your brain and muscle cells," she says.

Recharger #5: Grab an orange

Up to 30 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin C — and the first symptom is fatigue, report experts at Arizona State University in Tempe. Why? This nutrient helps your body’s cells convert food into energy. Fortunately, you can alleviate shortfalls and tiredness in three weeks by eating one serving of citrus daily.