Why Nutrition is Key to Your Productivity

“Are you too busy to be healthy? Read on as we tell you the importance of having a balanced life for your overall productivity"

Nowadays it seems like everyone is running out of time, the average 24 hours is not enough anymore. As competition gets more intense, you work harder to keep up with your peers. And it’s not just a make believe narrative as I’ve got the numbers to prove it.

Younger generations are so busy, they have much shorter attention span. According to research the average attention span has now been shortened to about 8 seconds. Within those 8 seconds, we surely have something else that will catch our attention.

Although some may call Millennials as the snowflake generation, they’re actually working a lot harder than their predecessors. A survey found that majority of them are “work-martyrs” and full blown workaholics. They feel that their job is fully their responsibility and feels guilty when they take time off.

Another reason why we may be working ourselves too hard is chemistry - and it’s called dopamine. It’s easy to get addicted to working hard, as when we accomplish something - such as ticking off tasks and to do lists or completing a project - a chemical called dopamine is released which is commonly called the chemical of reward and pleasure.

This is all great and motivating; but when you push yourself too hard without taking care of your body and health, your activity could become counterproductive. People are now working themselves to death without sparing a minute about what they’re putting in their bodies.

Not taking care of yourself means that you’re actually selling yourself short and could cost you your productivity in the end. That’s why it’s important for you to take the time to think more about nutrition and health; as it could increase several aspects of productivity. I’ll explain the details in this article on how the food you eat could actually lead to a higher paycheck.

It improves your immune system

One of the most important payoffs to eating well and healthily is it will boost your immune system. When we eat nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, we will be fulfilling our daily needs of micronutrients in a form of antioxidants. These antioxidants are what will help you put up defense against diseases.

Antioxidants work by reacting with free radicals or reducing oxidative stress that could otherwise damage the cells in our body. By having antioxidants, we could reduce the possibility of contracting such diseases as cardiovascular, cancer, or even the common cold.

Thus, we can say that having a healthier body and better immune system would lead to more energy, less sick days and ultimately more productivity in your workplace.

It’s an easy switch, just be more mindful of what you eat and consume fresh foods instead of those prepackaged goods. This way you can get your antioxidants, and not to mention they’ll taste much better too!

It increases concentration and memory

It’s no secret that some food will increase your brain function, some even call them superfoods. These foods are fish, nuts, and blueberries. Let’s dive in and see how they can help you think more like a genius.

Blueberries, or as doctors call it “brainberries”, can do wonders for your brain function, again due to their powerful content of antioxidants. They protect the brain from oxidative stress and reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

On the other hand, fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for your brain to function. The omega-3 or good oils will allow you to get a healthy blood flow, leading to better cognitive functions - ie. you’ll be more alert and think faster!

Lastly the vitamin E in nuts. It also acts as an important antioxidant for the brain to avoid it from deteriorating. It will keep your brain young and you’ll be able to avoid degenerative diseases.

Include fish at least twice a week in your diet so that you can get the healthy omega-3 fatty acids and keep a handful of blueberries and nuts ready at the office. You’ll be able to solve those budgeting issues in no time.

It increases creativity

This one may take you by surprise but changing what you eat could also affect your creativity and how you perceive things. This something that many artists live by, and if you don’t believe them, we have some scientific facts for you.

A research found that by eating more fruit and vegetables, people found themselves having more curiosity and creativity aside from having an overall healthy well-being. Not just that, they also found more feelings of engagement, meaning and purpose in life.

Another research found that tyrosine - a chemical found commonly in seaweed, bananas and almonds - has shown to increase effects on deep thinking and creative operations. It helps people overcoming mental block and lack of inspirations.

So get to your nearest supermarket, stock up on seaweed crackers and fruits, and consume them regularly. Who knows? By the end of the day you may be able to pitch a brand-new idea to your boss!

Final Thoughts

As we’ve already established, eating right not only makes you healthier; but it also keeps you creative and concentrated. You can achieve this by changing your diet and adopt a healthier lifestyle for the sake of your well-being as well as your productivity.

According to science, it takes about 21 days to change a habit. You can try to slowly add more nutritious food in those 21 days by bringing healthy snacks and prepared meals. By the end of the adjustment period, you’ll create a new habit and be ditching those burgers and pretzels and munching more on nutrient dense foods.

It may seem like a lot of work at first, but remember that our bodies and energy are finite, and to keep stretching that limit we need to take care of it as best as we can.