Isn’t it ironic that many people let their health take the backseat in order to focus on their work when they are able to work better when they’re healthy?
It’s common knowledge that healthy workers are the most productive, but that apparently hasn’t been enough motivation for the workaholics of the world to take better care of themselves.
You might be able to relate, and it would be perfectly understandable. After working hard the whole day, you probably just want to lounge around and treat yourself to something decadent.
How to Increase Your Productivity
Your work is ultimately a reflection of who you are as a person. If you want your output to be topnotch, then you have to be the best version of yourself that you can be. It goes back to the original point. You have to be healthy to be optimally productive.
What are the healthy steps that you can take to increase your productivity?
1. Get sufficient, restful sleep each night.
The recommendation is that you sleep seven to nine hours a night. Getting less than this could negatively impact your performance and cognition. Even mere minutes less than the recommendation may accumulate over time, leaving you sleep-deprived as well.
If you want to be focused, positive, and productive, get in the recommended hours of sleep. To help you sleep faster and earlier, stay away from screens at bedtime. Go old school and read a book. You’ll be nodding off in no time.
2. Always eat breakfast.
Many people who need to rush off to work in the morning end up skipping breakfast. This is a big no-no as you’ve just emerged from starvation mode upon waking up. You need to break the fasting you did while sleeping, refuel with essential nutrients and get an energy boost.
Without breakfast, you would be running on empty, which means that you would likely struggle with your tasks, exhibit moody behavior as you get “hangrier” and “hangrier,” and be inclined to overeat at mealtime.
Don’t hesitate or feel guilty about drinking coffee if it’s your go-to pick-me-up. Pure coffee is rich in antioxidants and offers plenty of health benefits. Just remember to drink moderately and not to lace your coffee with unhealthy additives.
3. Use an ergonomic chair.
Not many realize it, but the quality of your workspace has a direct effect on your productivity. When you sit in an uncomfortable chair day in and day out, you may end up suffering from pains which will, of course, affect your performance.
A bad chair equals discomfort, tiredness, sluggishness, and difficulty in focusing. Make sure that your chair is at a proper height, has a restful seat pan, and offers good lumbar support.
4. Exercise regularly.
This may seem like an impossibility given how busy you are, but there is always a way for you to get some exercise in. Go up and down the stairs instead of riding the elevator. You can spend 15 minutes of your lunch break walking around your workplace. You can even squeeze in some yoga or Zumba during short breaks.
A person who exercises has higher energy levels and a more alert mind than one who doesn’t, so get your heart pumping and your blood circulating with some form of regular workout.
5. Take five several times during the workday.
This is essential for regaining concentration. You may think that working non-stop is the way for you to accomplish as much as possible, but taking breaks allows you to refresh so that you can get your job done correctly and more quickly.
Perhaps during your lunch break, you can get a massage. Look for professionals who are certified therapists in chair massage. Chair massages commonly last for half an hour, giving you enough time to eat and relax afterwards.
6. Bring your own healthy meals and snacks.
There might be healthy options for lunch around you, but if unhealthy options are also available, you might be tempted or perhaps even forced to choose them. However, if you bring your own food, you can expect to eat something that is wholesome through and through because you prepared it yourself.
7. Regularly take multivitamins.
Even with consistently healthy meals and snacks, there could still be nutritional gaps in your diet. Taking organic food supplements definitely helps, especially ones that specifically address your needs. You could definitely opt for those that help with work stress.
Conclusion
There are many important reasons to pursue a healthy lifestyle; it’s the ideal state, after all. If productivity is among your priorities, be it in the workplace or elsewhere, then you might finally be compelled to work on improving your health.