We all want the most out of life. We all want to have our cake and eat it too and then create something brilliant that we are hailed as a genius for and then go out and have more cake and other tantalizing foods and drinks and laugh with our beautiful and fascinating friends all night and on a lark everyone jumps in your new friend’s private jet to her house in the Bahamas and wake up in the morning on a gorgeous beach fully refreshed and full of energy and ready to see what adventures the day holds…. Ok maybe that’s what I want.
In all sincerity though we all want to be productive and have all the energy that we need to give our best to our work and our careers and also have plenty left over for our loved ones and the enjoyment of life. Having optimal energy levels not only makes our work more enjoyable because we aren’t struggling against our own tired brains and bodies but it also makes the work that much better. So how can we do that? Glad you asked! Let me present in textbook blog fashion a few ways we can maintain high energy levels and maximise potential joy and the productivity that makes everything else possible:
Stay Hydrated
I’ve said, read, written, spoken of this many, many times… You have to drink water. Nothing will throw your body out of whack faster (save not breathing) than failing to keep your body properly hydrated. This is entry level human maintenance here people.
Feed The Machine
Now that your blood is the proper consistency we need to get some nutrients in it and to the rest of your parts. Here are some “Fatigue Fighting Strategies” from WebMD to get you on the right nutritional track to be:
- You’re going to need some breakfast so get that in you. Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast feel better both mentally and physically than those who skip their morning meal.
- Eat more often, but not more amounts. Having three smallish meals and two snacks throughout the day can keep your blood sugar and energy levels stable all day long, says Roberta Anding, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
- Fiber is your friend. Fiber has a time-releasing effect on carbs, so they enter your bloodstream at a slow and steady pace, giving your energy staying power, says Anding.
- Omega-3s are Mega-Awesome. Found in fatty fish (such as tuna and salmon), walnuts, and canola oil, these essential fatty acids play a role in keeping brain cells healthy and helping you feel mentally alert.
- Watch caffeine intake after noon. When caffeine is consumed in large quantities — or anytime in the afternoon or evening — the quality of your sleep that night can take a nosedive, leaving you with heavy eyelids the next day says Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D., a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Elevate Your Mood
Sometimes work bogs us down and we need to break out of the suck for a bit. Take a few minutes to joke around with a friend. Feed the birds in the park. Sext with a willing participant (willing, is the key word there). Positive social interaction can be highly invigorating and get you back into the work, and after-work, groove.
Endorphins Are Legal
Get yourself moving. About every hour stand up and get your blood pumping and the oxygen flowing: Take phone calls as you move around your office, challenge the intern to a game of H.O.R.S.E. with balled up paper and a waste basket, go get coffee for your co-workers… I mean Janice from HR brings donuts for everyone on Fridays and what do you do? Huh? Pay it forward already.
I hope you’ve found these tips helpful and invigorating. Now that you are done taking a little break reading this get back to work and bust out some of that unique brilliance. After all we aren’t gonna keep the extra seat on the jet to the Bahamas open all night so chop chop. We believe in you.