Want To Get More Done? Eat Better
Nadav Wilf
Angel Investor | Emotional Intelligence, AI and Automation | Creator of the Align Methodology | 3 exits as founder
Introduction
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We’ve all seen the headlines on articles, books, and magazines touting the benefits of healthy eating. So, it should not come as a surprise that eating healthy helps improve body image, prevent disease, and bring happiness. People generally don’t know that what we eat affects our productivity and leadership abilities.?
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As Anthony Robbins said, “The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel, and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.” By properly fuelling our bodies , we’ll have better memory, better concentration, a longer attention span, better problem-solving skills, be in a better mood, and be less stressed. All of these characteristics are essential in successful leadership.
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However, leaders can struggle with eating a nutritious diet between the long workweeks, endless meetings, and travel. This can cause them to experience many Undesired Mindset Patterns regarding their Nutrition. One example of an Undesired Feeling and Belief Pattern that leaders may have is:
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Undesired Feeling/Beliefs & Impact of Believing It
When we don’t prioritize healthy eating, we’ll generally grab the quickest and most convenient option whenever the hunger strikes, especially if we’re on the go. And often, what’s fast and easy isn’t the healthiest option.?
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Eating too much of the “wrong” foods is problematic because it can cause us to feel sluggish after a meal, impairing our productivity . For example, one study found those team members who ate an unhealthy diet were 66% more likely to experience a loss in productivity than those who regularly ate whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Another study found those team members who ate more fruits and vegetables were more creative and curious and had better overall well-being. These factors led to them being more productive than team members who consumed less fruit and vegetable.?
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Therefore, if we want to increase our productivity, we should make better food choices by shifting to the Desired Mindset Pattern.
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Desired Feeling/Beliefs & Positives of Shifting To This Pattern
When our food choices fuel our focus (i.e., taking additional vitamins and minerals), we’ll have significant improvements in energy, mental performance, memory, and general well-being. Eating healthy also fuels our focus by:
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#1 – Elevating our energy levels and moods. By eating green leafy vegetables, unrefined carbohydrates, and whole grains, we’ll remain energetic for long periods. And having the energy to make it through long workweeks helps us stay positive. This positivity is also transferred to our team, increasing the output of the entire company.
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#2 – Improving our time management. Eating healthy depends on planning and scheduling. This forces us to schedule other aspects of our workday, improving our time management and productivity. For example, if we schedule a time to eat breakfast, we’ll get up earlier. Getting up earlier gives us time to relax, set our intentions, and plan for the rest of the day. On the other hand, if we don’t schedule time for breakfast, we’ll skip it more often than not. And what usually happens is that we rush out the door at the last minute, setting the tone for the rest of the day. We’ll be stressed, ill-prepared, and playing catch-up.
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#3 – Improving our image and reputation. Research shows that team members view overweight leaders as having poorer leadership skills and job performance than fitter ones. This suggests that maintaining a strong and healthy image and reputation inspires our team. Our team's respect also gives us confidence, motivation, and focus on leading effectively.?
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3 Action Steps To Healthy Eating
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I suggest following the roadmap laid out by Harvard Medical School’s Healthy Eating Plate to start eating healthy, balanced meals. Its guidelines are:
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· ? of your plate should be fruits and vegetables.
· ? of your plate should be whole grains.
· ? of your plate should be healthy proteins like fish, beans, nuts, seeds, poultry, and eggs.
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Other additional tips include:
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· Avoid eating high-fat and processed meats. Limit red meat and cheese.
· Stick with whole foods as much as possible.
· Avoid chemical additives.
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Now that we know what to eat, here are three action steps for improving our healthy eating behaviors:
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ACTION STEP #1] Plan ahead. When we’re hungry, we have low energy and self-control levels. This makes it easier to choose the quickest and most convenient option like fast food rather than healthy options. Plan and prepare meals in advance to avoid decision fatigue. This way, whenever hunger strikes, we’ll be prepared as we'll have healthy meals and snacks on hand.??
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ACTION STEP #2] Remove temptations . The most apparent option drives our habits. So, to help us make better food choices, we should avoid buying unhealthy foods or, at the very least, keep them out of sight. Opt for buying healthier options like fruits and nuts. This way, whenever we get the urge to snack, the only option we’ll have is the healthy alternative.
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ACTION STEP #3] Modify the food culture. Workplaces encourage snacking by keeping treats and chips in the breakroom. It’s not wrong to snack, as frequent small meals help maintain a consistent energy level. However, to foster an environment where everyone makes better food choices, we can stock breakrooms with healthy snack options.
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Client Testimonial
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Here’s what Jayesh Punater, Founder and CEO of Nucleus, said about his time working with us:
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"Not only did I lose 12 pounds, but I've built a completely new relationship with nutrition and food, and I have been very well prepared to embark on a journey to get into perfect shape and be in an emotional state of happiness and contentment while enjoying life."
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What’s Possible
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Think it sounds great, but wondering if it’s really possible to shift your Undesired Mindsets into Desired ones to grow your business?
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At Lifestyle Perfected, we empower you to feel, think and experience life and business the way you want by implementing our Align, Automate, Achieve methodology.
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We’ll equip you with leadership tools and resources that span all life and business areas.?
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You’ll benefit from rituals that create time, growth, happiness, peace, personal financial planning, project management systems, and communication tools guaranteed to elevate your performance to new heights.
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If you would like to learn more about how you can shift your Undesired Mindsets into Desired ones to grow your business, reply to this email with “ALIGN,” and I’ll walk you through it.
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Sending you love,
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The Lifestyle Perfected Team