Need a pick-me-up? Whether you’re trying to avoid caffeine or you’re trying to save money on pricey energy drinks, here are 3 excellent options we found over at Instructables:

The Fire Hydrant

This is a hydrating mixture that you can drink up to 3-4 times a day, 8 oz. at a time. Here’s when you need:

• Water
• 1 slice of lemon
• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper

The best way to keep your body functioning well is to stay hydrated. So water, with the combination of lemon and cayenne pepper (which helps raise energy levels naturally), will help to keep your energy up throughout the day.

The Quick Fix

Here’s an energy drink that doesn’t include caffeine or refined sugars. Here’s what you need:

• Hot water
• 1 1/2 to 2 tsp of honey
• 1 inch of fresh ginger root
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp tumeric

Just cut up 2 thin slices of ginger and put them in your mug. Then, use a garlic press to juice the rest of the ginger into the mug. Add your spices, and honey, then fill mug with hot water and stir. Here’s why it works:

Ginger speeds up metabolism and increases circulation. It also aids in the digestive process which can help stave off the post lunch coma that contributes to the afternoon slump. Turmeric, a cousin of ginger, also helps speed things up in the body, including energy levels! And Cardamom has long been valued medicinally for its ability to increase circulation and improve energy. Honey is mother nature’s equivalent of an energy shot and is one of the best kinds of sugars for your body.

The Heavy Lifter

Drink one glass of this stuff in the morning to give you a solid energy foundation for the entire day. Just blend the following ingredients into a shake and pair with a piece of whole grain toast for breakfast.

• 1 ripe banana
• 1/4 cup raw almonds or 2 tbsp almond butter
• 1 scoop of high quality whey protein powder
• 2 washed kale leaves
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1 cup milk of choice