Entrepreneurs approach business with dedication, discipline and passion second to none. So why do so many neglect the one part of their lives that could yield the greatest long-term benefit?
Their personal health.
To be successful over the long haul, you have to begin to think about your health and make it a priority.
What you eat can have a profound effect on your ability to perform because it influences energy, mood and the capacity to concentrate, remember and learn – which is why eating the right food is key to the success of your business.
How eating the right food can increase productivity
- Eating well increases energy and alertness
- Providing your body with good food ensures a healthy immune system, which will reduce absenteeism
- Eating well improves sleep, leading to greater concentration
- Prioritising healthy food is not only good for your body, it can improve mental health as well
- And of course, a healthy, balanced diet can help maintain a healthy body which gives us an improved ability to take part in physical activity
A healthy mind and body will help lead your business to success. Follow these simple tips to help you improve your mood, memory and drive.
Eating the right food for a healthy mind, body and business – 10 tips
1. Reduce sugar and processed food from your diet.
Reduce sugar and processed food from your diet. I’m not saying don’t eat anything with sugar again! but aim to reduce sugary foods and replace them where possible with more nourishing foods.
2. Fill up on colourful fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet. They are low in calories and full of wonderful nutrients, such as antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals – all things we definitely want to fuel our body with!
3. Drink plenty of water
Most of us don’t drink enough water. Make a conscious effort to drink more water. I keep a 2l bottle by my desk to encourage me to drink it throughout the day.
Being hydrated will improve brain function, make you more accurate and less prone to mistakes, help you feel alert and awake.
4. Be careful with caffeine
Drinking large amounts of caffeine will give you a quick spike in energy, but guarantees a productivity-harming crash. To stay productive all day, aim to have a maximum of 4 caffeinated drinks per day, this includes tea, coffee & green tea! If you’re used to drinking a big mug of coffee throughout the day, and feel this habit might be hard to change, start with baby steps – it’s worth it.
5. Eat breakfast every morning
Make sure you eat breakfast each day. Even if you are not someone who is generally hungry in the morning, eating breakfast ensures your body moves out of its sleep-friendly energy-conserving state and into its wakeful daytime state. Even a yogurt and a piece of fruit in the morning is better for your productivity than nothing.
6. Avoid drinking to help you sleep
While having a glass of wine before bed might help you nod off initially, alcohol may actually make your sleep less restful. Alcohol affects the way your body metabolises food, plus it depresses your body’s energy levels.
Although this makes it easier to fall asleep, when the alcohol wears off in the middle of the night you might be more prone to waking up. Staying productive at work is tied to getting enough rest, so avoiding alcohol before bed the day prior to work will help you get more efficient sleep.
7. Plan ahead
Prepare a weekly menu, so that you can do grocery shopping efficiently. Pack your lunch at night and stick it in the fridge so it’s all ready to grab on the way out in the morning.
If you’re working from home, you can still prepare food the night before. I work from home most days and love to just have my lunch ready. It gives me time to go for a walk outside before diving back into work.
8. Reorganise your food positioning in the cupboards
Organise your food in a way that brain powering foods get more exposure. It’s an incredible trick to start eating better food that will give you more daily alertness! Trust me, it works.
9. Write a shopping list
Plan your meals ahead and then write a list of foods you need to buy and don’t buy anything that’s not on the list! If you’re anything like me, walking around the food aisles is dangerous, especially on an empty stomach!
10. Take a break
You might be tempted to continue working through your lunch break now – but don’t do it!
Being distracted during a meal can lead to over-eating and decreased satiety (satisfaction and fullness) from the meal.
Instead, take a break from work to sit down at a table to enjoy your lunch and relax for a few minutes. You’ll enjoy the meal more, and it may even get your creative juices going.
Eating the right food for business success
As an entrepreneur, being as productive as possible is one of the keys to success. Nutrition plays such an important role not just with productivity but also mental clarity, memory, motivation, mood, mental strength, and overall physical health.
With so many tasks, jobs, processes, and people to manage, ensuring your cognitive and emotional wellbeing are in optimum condition is imperative. And thankfully, this is something very much in your control.
By adjusting your diet and eating habits, you can quickly notice positive differences in how your mind performs.
If you approach the changes gradually and commit to them as you go along, you will have a healthy diet sooner than you might think.
I hope you enjoyed reading my article about eating the right food and it has inspired you to make a change.
About the Author
Jade Jemma is a sought after sales growth expert and speaker based in London, UK.
Through her private mentoring, group programs and online courses Jade helps freedom-focused entrepreneurs to simplify and accelerate their sales growth so they can create their ultimate freedom lifestyle.
> More blog posts by Jade Jemma
> Her website Freedomzest.com