Food can have a huge influence on how productive we are, not just at work but in life in general with activities of all kinds. In this article, we give you a list of foods to try out if you find that your productivity and energy levels have been sagging. Combine these with timely exercise and you will be off on your way!
In our modern world, productivity is everything. It is what pays our bills. It is what keeps the boss happy. It is what helps us get more done in less so that we can take some time off for the really important things. If you could get more productive by just making small changes to the things that you eat, wouldn’t you do it? You would, right?
Well, here are some foods that you should make a habit of eating in order to boost your productivity.
1. Water
Okay, this is an obvious one, but did you know that dehydration is one of the leading causes of a lack of productivity, according to many studies? And this is so easy to fix. Just keep a bottle of water next to you on your working desk and keep taking gulps every twenty minutes or so. Aim to get through two litres of water during an average day. This will keep you nice and hydrated, and it will force you to make trips to the bathroom that will give you some much needed exercise too.
2. Nuts and dry fruits
Another easy one. Instead of packing cake or pastries into your snack box, make a habit of taking with your cashew, almonds or walnuts. Memory, learning, problem solving and attention can all be improved with the Vitamin E that these foods contain. So keep some stashed away to get you through the working day with no guilt whatsoever. Don’t have too many at a time, though; you should be aiming at around a fistful of nuts per day. No more, no less.
3. Leafy green vegetables
These are a bit harder to arrange, but with a bit of planning, you can do it. See if you can incorporate leafy greens into at least one meal of every day. There are so many options to choose from: spinach, kale, lettuce and others. You can eat them boiled, cooked, or as a raw salad. If the last is difficult for you because you’re eating them raw, then look up some recipes that involve these greens. There are literally thousands out there.
4. Eggs
Eggs are just about the most super of all super foods out there, and they’re also – blow for blow – the cheapest. There simply is no excuse for not having two eggs every day in some form or the other: hardboiled, scrambled, as an omelette or as a curry to go with your rice with some Indian spices thrown in. It’s a great source of protein and a host of vitamins. A diet without eggs in it cannot be a complete diet, period.
5. Dark chocolate
Yes, we did say chocolate. No, that’s not a typo. The high flavonol levels in cocoa in dark chocolate give you a great energy boost when eaten at strategic times. Dark chocolate is low in sugar and calories, and is high in antioxidants so it won’t harm your health all that much. So pop in a few squares of dark chocolate immediately after lunch to fight off those post-lunch blues at work and to attack your tasks with renewed zest and gusto.
