Do you have a hard time getting and staying productive at work? Consider if you eat a lot of junk food during the day. If so, the right diet changes may help you be more productive.
1. Plan Your Meals Ahead
If you don’t already, you should plan your meals before they occur. Of course, this can include meal prep by cooking a big meal over the weekend to eat throughout the week. However, you should decide what to eat before that meal. If you know what you’ll eat when you break for lunch, you can eat it and get back to work more quickly.
2. Make Breakfast Quick
If you work best in the morning, you should aim to get to work as quickly as you can after waking up. Because of this, you may not want to make a huge breakfast. Instead, eat something quick, like a bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit. You can also opt to skip breakfast entirely. Some people swear by intermittent fasting, which typically involves waiting until the middle of the day to eat.
3. Prepare Your Work Area
Before you start working, make sure you have everything you need, including food. You don’t need to eat a whole meal at your desk. But you may want to have some snacks within easy reach in case you get hungry. That way, you won’t have to waste time getting up to go get a snack from your kitchen or the office break room. Put your snacks in a drawer in your desk so that they’re easy to grab. You can also make sure the snacks are easy to eat and won’t cause a mess.
4. Try Snack Bars
Snack bars make for a great snack during the middle of the day. They’re usually easy to eat with one hand, and they aren’t too messy. A lot of snack bars have good nutrients, like protein and vitamins. You can either buy snack bars on your regular grocery store trip, or you can make your own at home. Snack bars usually aren’t too big, so they can be just enough to give you the energy to make it to lunch or the end of the day.
5. Cut Out Foods
If you find that certain foods make it hard to focus, avoid them. Some people have a sensitivity to gluten, so going gluten-free can be a good choice. And you may wonder, is oatmeal gluten free? You can find options, and oatmeal can be an easy quick meal to have before work or during your lunch break.
6. Stick to Natural Foods
Gluten-free or not, eating natural, whole foods is better for you and your productivity. Try to avoid junk food as your main snack of choice. While it can taste good, it can also make you feel tired, especially if it contains a lot of sugar. After you eat a lot of sugar, your glucose can crash and make you feel tired and unable to get work done.
7. Use Caffeine Sparingly
Caffeine can be a great way to increase your energy. But if you use it too much, you can build up a caffeine tolerance, making it harder to feel the effects of it. Try to keep caffeine for the times when you need it. If possible, get a good amount of sleep before work so that you can focus without drinking coffee or soda.
8. Drink Water
Water is a healthy, easy alternative to caffeine drinks. You can get water from your kitchen tap or find it somewhere in your office. Drinking water throughout the day can help you feel full, keeping you from having to snack on junk food that could tire you out. Water can also make you feel better, which can also help you be more productive.
9. Save Your Big Meal
If you like to enjoy a big meal, you’re not alone. Many people like going out and getting good food with family or friends. But try to save those meals for after work. Eating a lot of food can make you feel tired and sluggish. If you get too tired, it will be even harder for you to do your work, let alone be more productive. Instead, treat yourself to a big dinner after you finish work for the day.
10. Treat Yourself
Some people can cut themselves off from treats and be fine. But if you like a bit of chocolate or some potato chips, give yourself a treat occasionally. You can use a treat as a reward for hitting a particular work or productivity goal. That way, you can have some motivation to get your work done when you aren’t otherwise interested.
The right diet can make a huge difference in how you feel, and that can affect your productivity. Make these diet changes to help work more efficiently, and then you can relax later.
