Managers: Boost Team Energy without Giving In to Caffeine and Sugar!

How do you keep your office team energised throughout the day? What do you do during the break? During the workday, we frequently reach for a sugary snack or a fresh cup of coffee to give us a quick boost. It may work immediately for a short period of time, but there is a flip side to the coin with long-term effects on our sleep, overall health, and productivity.

Research has shown that caffeine actually stays in your body for five or six hours after consumption, which can help reduce sleepiness. Caffeine, on the other hand, can have a negative impact on the quality of your sleep. When I decided to do a detox 18 years ago, I realised this. I had migraines for the first three days, but once I stopped drinking caffeine, I couldn't believe how much better my sleep was. It's hard to put into words. My sleep was deeper, and I awoke feeling much more refreshed. I haven't had any caffeine since. Herbal teas and other decaf alternatives have quickly become my favourites.

The sugar factor

Another thing that can affect productivity is your blood glucose. Having the ideal amount of blood glucose is the key. Too little blood glucose and your productivity will take a hit. Any too much blood glucose means too much energy.

My eldest son has Type 1 Diabetes, so I am well aware of how a change in blood glucose levels can affect a person's mood and ability to concentrate. Read this Diabetes UK article about blood sugar levels to better understand how important it is to control and manage glucose levels.

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Getting ‘hangry’

We need to be aware that you don’t need to have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes to be affected by blood glucose. If our teams are not eating enough in the office, they can have a drop in their blood glucose. On the contrary, if they are eating too much sugar, their blood glucose will increase dramatically.

How does this affect their productivity and mood? I know my husband gets ‘hangry’ when he needs to eat. His blood glucose has dropped, and he cannot focus. This leads to him not being able to concentrate and becoming snappy. He needs to eat to increase his blood glucose and concentrate.

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The sugar rush

When my son, who does not have Type 1 Diabetes, eats too much chocolate, sweets, and sugary drinks, he cannot sit still. He can't concentrate and can't stop talking. He becomes agitated. This is not due to a medical condition; rather, it is due to an excess of sugar in his system.

Do you recognise someone in your team who gets ‘hangry’ when they do not eat enough? Or on the other side gets hyperactive when they eat too much sugar?

What can you do to help? Talk to your team about other ways they can change their energy rather than reaching for sugar or caffeine.

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Make sure to do these 3 tips to stimulate your team to be more productive:

1.?Get the blood flowing with some exercise.

Challenge the team to get moving! Do a quick round of jumping jacks, chair stretches, or a fun obstacle course around the office (with an eye on health & safety to keep HR happy!)

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2.??Get some fresh air – take a quick walk.

This can be done outside the office to get some fresh air and do some stretches. Even just getting away from your desk to take a quick walk and a breather can give a boost of energy.

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3.??Happy music is a great way to stimulate your energy.

Get your team to put together a top-five list of their go-to tunes to set the mood and lift their energy and play them during the day.

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Eating and dieting

On that note, we should be aware of the harm that dieting can do to our bodies. Laura Clarke, a dietitian and nutritionist, outlines in detail topics on Eating Disorders - Myths around Disordered Eating and Dieting during an interview with her on my Mental Health Chats YouTube and Podcast programmes. Laura is a very practical, modern dietitian who does not believe in dieting to maintain weight. She also explains how harmful dieting can be to your body, causing strain on your organs.

So, the next time you think of indulging in sweets and coffee for an extra hour of boost in productivity, do reconsider.

What are you going to do to encourage healthy eating and drinking in the office to promote more positivity and productivity in your team?

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Feel free to book a strategy call here if you want to develop a strategy to give your managers the skills and support they need to lead the team with confidence, with a core focus on emotional fitness and positive mental health in the workplace.