Feeling sluggish at work? Maybe unproductive? Dreading the afternoon slump? It might be time to switch up your eating habits.
What we consume has a major impact on energy levels, ability to focus, and overall feelings of wellbeing. A few simple habits and switches can revolutionize your workdays, helping you feel more productive and joyful than ever.
Read on to discover how eating smarter can help you become your best self at work:
Eat breakfast – They don’t call it the most important meal of the day for nothing. According to Harvard Medical School, starting your day without breakfast may leave your body in an “energy deficit.” Breakfast literally “breaks the fast” that your body goes into while asleep. It boosts glucose levels and alertness to charge you up for the day ahead.
Choose foods wisely – You get out what you put in, so choose your meals and snacks wisely. Healthy, energizing foods are the obvious choice to fuel you for a long day at the office. Certain foods can even help you focus, which helps increase your productivity.
Here are some of the best foods to give you long-lasting energy and a brain boost:
- Berries
- Whole grains (whole grain bread, brown rice, oatmeal)
- Avocado
- Salmon
- Bananas
- Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale)
- Nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
Schedule your snacks – Snacking sometimes gets a bad rap but eating small meals and snacks every few hours is good for you! Eating frequently regulates your blood glucose level and helps you avoid productivity-sapping dips. So next time you’re feeling hungry between meals, grab a snack from the kitchen instead of trying to stick it out.
Stay hydrated – Food is not the only factor impacting your energy. If you’re dehydrated, your mind and body cannot perform at their highest level. Always keep water at your desk! If more interesting drinks usually win out over water (*cough* iced coffee), at least try alternating every other cup for water. You can also make your water more interesting by infusing it with fruits and veggies. Click here for some recipes!
Cut caffeine – Seems counterintuitive, right? Drinking too much caffeine all throughout the day can actually make you more tired over time. You may even experience a crash, like that following a sugar rush, when caffeine wears off. Additionally, drinking caffeine in the afternoon negatively impacts your sleep quality, causing you to be more tired the following day. Click to read more about staying energized without caffeine!