Majority of Americans admit to relying on coffee too much in order to keep their energy up

The average American aims for eight hours of sleep every night – but half get under that amount, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 adults examined how they try to improve their lifestyles and found that three in four people say it all starts with focusing on their mental and physical health (78%).

Most respondents agree that making healthy choices the night before and, in the morning, positively impacts their performance throughout the day (84%), leading three in four to eat or drink something for breakfast every morning (79%).

Respondents also took measures like exercising (46%), implementing a regular sleep schedule (45%) or reading (40%) to help them focus better throughout the day.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of ZOA, the survey found that 79% of Americans want to make decisions that are best for their bodies.

Still, nearly three-quarters of respondents admitted to turning to unhealthy ways to keep their energy up (73%), like having multiple cups of coffee (49%) or sugar-packed energy drinks (45%).

But respondents aren’t set on these options; many are willing to switch to non-artificial, natural, low-sugar snack/drink choices if they are just as potent as their current ones (68%).

Three in five stated that making healthy choices in the morning is difficult because they’re always in a rush (63%), and they wake up late to prepare for their day (62%).

It’s no surprise, then, that people are likely to skip the hassle of making food at home and grab a meal or beverage on the go an average of three times a week.

Similarly, 65% of people prefer drinkable options throughout the day because their schedules are so busy.

And when they start to crash between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (47%), some rely on pick-me-ups for a burst of energy.

“The relationship between your routine and what you consume to fuel your body should be a top priority. It takes discipline to form a healthy habit and set yourself up to achieve greatness each day,” said ZOA founder and strength coach Dave Rienzi. “Choosing clean, natural energy products that support your wellness and fitness goals is the greatest resource you can give yourself to reach your full potential.”

ZOA founder Dany Garcia added: “As a passionate fitness enthusiast, I wanted a better-for-you alternative for my daily energy kick that also tasted amazing and didn’t leave me crashing at the end of the day. As an entrepreneur, I wanted to bring to life something that anyone can use and experience its efficacy on a daily basis.”

Although most respondents claim they make healthy choices to boost their energy (73%), most admitted they never pay attention to their calorie intake as long as the foods and drinks they consume taste good (65%).

Sixty percent of people don’t think they can make it through the day without consuming sugar, so it’s no surprise the average person has six energy crashes a week from too much sugar or caffeine.

“I’ve always been mindful about what I put into my body and constantly fine-tune what will maximize my performance, not only in the gym but in all aspects of my life,” said ZOA founder and Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson. “Creating a better-for-you energy drink that consists of powerful ingredients with essential vitamins and natural caffeine was deeply important to me – and I’ve dedicated my time and passion to making it happen.”