Business Productivity And Wellness – The Connection

‘You are what you eat’ is a popular saying that offers a great deal of truth in that the food we take-in is important for our body. However, when it comes to business productivity, do you know that what you eat is equally important for your mind to function optimally? In addition to lowering your cholesterol levels and controlling body weight, a healthy diet also has the capacity to enhance your mental alertness, concentration, problem-solving skills as well as productivity.

It has been established that entrepreneurs who come with boisterous energy tend to affect their employees with their lively dispositions thereby increasing productivity. So, to help enhance the way you work, it helps to always keep in mind that your productivity as an entrepreneur is often impacted by your diet – while it is absolutely true that you are what you consume, another aphorism that says that ‘we work the way we eat’ begins to ring true. 

How Diet Impacts Productivity

The constitution of our daily meals will always have a direct impact on productivity and work output much more than many people realize. Everyone knows that the digestive system uses a lot of energy to perform its function and our body only has so much energy going round, which makes it important to consider what goes into your stomach when you want to coax the best possible performance from both your mind and body.

Over time, entrepreneurs who take their diet seriously have been found to be more productive than those who eat about anything they come across; when you nourish your mind with the right nutrient, you will enjoy good health, thereby reducing the cases of absenteeism resulting from ill-health and fatigue. Besides, you will be able to have better focus and see situations and circumstances in a different way which will consequently help you be in a better position to make efficient business decisions that will ultimately move your company forward.

The same way that we have nutrients nourishing the body, there are also nutrients that focus on nourishing the mind, we call ‘brain diet’.

What is a brain diet?

Brain diet simply refers to those nutrients that aid our mental development. According to experts, the human brain functions at its optimum with about twenty-five grams of glucose in our bloodstream. Glucose serves as a source of fuel and energy to the brain and to beep the brain at constant alertness, our glucose level should be regulated throughout the day. If you are looking for good food to snack on, then you should opt for the likes of beans, lentil, and whole-grain pasta – these all keep the brain energized.

To moderate the level of glucose in your bloodstream, attention needs to be paid to your overall glycemic index – this a number showing how the glucose level in your bloodstream is affected by food. Any food that has a low glycemic index will be slow in releasing glucose into the bloodstream.

In addition to glucose, there are two amino acids – tyrosine and tryptophan – that are particularly vital for brain functions; the latter functions to calm the brain while the former keeps you constantly energized. You can access these amino acids from foods like; meat, fish, cheese as well as yogurt.

In addition, brain cell production can be enhanced by the intake of fatty acids and also omega-3 which is found in walnuts and fish. It is well known that fish consumption reduces cognitive decline by ten percent in older people.

If you wish to improve your problem-solving skills, you should go for such foods as they function to enhance thinking, they always keep you alert and focused to be able to deal with problems as they arise. As we all know failure to instantly proffer a solution to serious problems in your business can put a spoke in the wheel of progress which slows productivity to a great extent.

The importance of antioxidants and brain activity

While improving our learning abilities, antioxidants function to protect us against cognitive decline as well as fight off free radicals. Foods like carrots, blueberries, spinach, and broccoli, as well as a variety of tea, come loaded with antioxidants.

With sufficient protection of your cells, you will think clearer and be open to learning new skills and ideas on a daily basis and continuously stay up to date with current trends in order not become obsolete or outdated.

Once you are not sufficiently nourished, you will, most likely, lack the strength and willpower to move with the times, which ultimately means you are likely to be left behind.

Proper nutrition does not offer magical solutions; however, we receive all the vital nutrients we need to energize our mind and body from the food we eat. When these important nutrients are lacking in our system, we become susceptible to both health problems and weight gain which will, in turn, have an adverse effect on our productivity. For instance, anemia which is caused by nutrient deficiencies can be a contributing factor to reduced performance as it gives rise to sluggishness and lethargy. On the other hand, weight gain gives rise to poor circulation which can leave you with a constant feeling of tiredness.

Being a good example

As an entrepreneur, you also need to be a good example for your employees. A little investment in organizational health initiatives can go a long way. This can come in the form of educational training and seminars on diverse health problems or even weight loss challenges. With such wellness programs in place, you can positively affect productivity to a great extent.

Conclusion

The responsibility lies with you to ensure the implementation of a workplace wellness strategy. Comprehensive and good wellness programs channelled towards the promotion of well-being can effectively cut down on the factors affecting performance and productivity in your business as well as promote a healthy lifestyle. These initiatives and programs can only make for improved productivity and profitability, in addition to employee satisfaction.

MindSpace Associates is a leading provider of business coaching services. We offer business entrepreneurship programs to small-to-medium businesses to help take your business to exceptional levels of performance. For further information, contact us or refer to some of our best books for managing a small business.