Being more productive isn’t just about getting more done. It’s about getting your body into the right shape to maximize your productivity. These are 3 ways to shift your gears out of neutral and into overdrive.
Drink more water
Most of the stuff inside us is made of water and not being well-hydrated has been known to have a huge impact on your well-being and productivity.
Sleep – Drink a glass of water before bed. This will help your body replenish itself overnight. It will help relax you and allow your body to balance. You’ll wake up feeling rested, refreshed, and ready to start the day.
Focus – Dehydration is the most common reason for moodiness and a shorter attention span. Water is brain food, so getting enough will keep you alert and focused. Not drinking enough water can cause nervousness and anxiety.
Energy – Being tired, feeling dizzy, and “blah” are signs that you’re not getting enough water. Keeping your body hydrated will help keep you awake and alert during the mid-afternoon slump.
Mood – Water affects your mood. Not drinking enough water can make you confused, tense, and irritable. Keep your brain happy and well-hydrated. It will promote more calm and positive thinking.
Eat healthy
What you eat directly affects your energy and mood. Sugar and junk foods may give you a quick boost of energy, but a crash is not far behind. Moderate and lasting energy is better than a quick rush and a low crash. Eating healthy is essential for being productive.
Antioxidants – Foods high in antioxidants help protect the brain from degeneration, boost focus, and improve memory. Blueberries, almonds, whole grains, and raisins have healthy antioxidants.
Zinc – Zinc is helpful for focusing your thinking skills and improving your memory. Pumpkin seeds, spinach, kidney beans, and peanuts are all high in Zinc.
Flavonoids – Vibrant, colorful foods are full of flavonoids which increase blood-flow to the brain. It boosts your attention span, problem-solving capability, and memory. Dark chocolate, berries, bananas, and green vegetables are good sources of flavonoids.
Vitamins – Foods with lots of vitamins help you fight fatigue and keep your energy levels up over a longer period of time. Foods rich in vitamins include sunflower seeds, carrots, squash, and cantaloupe.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is often overlooked when trying to be more productive. Most of us feel like sleep is wasting time. But you can be better, faster, and stronger if you sleep more!
Recover Focus – If you’re tired, you will have trouble focusing. If your thought process is interrupted, you’ll take longer to get back on track. Your temper will be harder to control.
Prevent Burn Out – Sleeping less than six hours per night almost always leads to burnout. This zaps our motivation for a job well done. Instead, we just want to get the job done.
Make Better Decisions – A lack of sleep reduces your response time by more than 50%! This is even lower than someone who’s been drinking! Getting enough sleep will help you to make better and more accurate decisions.
Better Memory – Sleep-deprived zombies are more likely to forget something that was just said, or correctly follow a series of instructions in order.
If you’re having trouble getting all of your zzz’s at night, try taking a nap. Catnaps for 10 or 20 minutes can do wonders for helping you catch up on your sleep. You’re still better to get a full night sleep, but a nap can give you enough of a power boost to make it through the day.