How to Perform Your Best at Work

Being your best at work is not just about your skills and talents and the amount of experience you have. How well you perform greatly depends on how well your body and brain can function. If they are not up to their best, your ability to be carry out your roles at work will be reduced. So what ways can we make sure we optimise our abilities?

Get a good night’s sleep. 

Sufficient amounts of quality sleep help us feel rested and restored for the day ahead. Try to keep a regular keeping pattern, with enough hours of sleep. Close down all stimulus such as laptops several hours before going to sleep. Ensure the bedroom is a place of calm and relaxation and not full of electrical gadgetry. 

Eat breakfast. 

Eating a good breakfast, such as porridge oats or protein foods such as eggs that release energy slowly and satisfy hunger for longer, make it less likely to crave sugary snacks that temporarily rise and then drop energy levels. 

Exercise. 

Exercise releases feel good chemicals that increase positivity and oxygenating blood that feeds the brain. Incorporating exercise into an existing daily routine can be as easy as parking the car, or getting off public transport a couple of stops before, and walking the rest of the way to work. 

Give your commute enough time.

By allowing yourself plenty of time to get to work, you can absorb any delays that occur and still arrive calm and relaxed, rather than arriving flustered and stressed from rushing to avoid being late. It can take several hours to get back into a better state of mind, from which to perform better.

Moderate the caffeine. 

Though in smaller amounts caffeine can make you more alert and focussed, too much can cause other problems, such as irritability. Balance the drinking with plenty of water to stay hydrated. Dehydration can impair brain function, and often it is mistaken for hunger which can lead to craving sugary foods. 

Take time out.

The body and mind works best if it is allowed to have restorative breaks. If possible, take regular breaks to switch off, physically and mentally, from the work you are doing. Take yourself away from the work area, get some fresh air, let the mind wander, and have a stretch. 

Watch the hours. 

Our bodies can cope with working for long periods but, if this is sustained over a long duration, the risk of burn-out can be become a reality. If this has become a problem, learn how to time manage better, finding ways of working more efficiently, rather than increasing the hours.

Awareness that our ability to use all our skills and knowledge is affected by our body’s being up to the tasks being met, will better prepare ourselves to perform better in our jobs.