Got Energy?
By Clarissa Rodriguez
Clear Road Associates
The #1 Way Executives Reduce Their Effectiveness and How To Fix It
Maximizing personal energy is the single most important card one plays every day at work and in life. And yet, many executives habitually overwork themselves and their colleagues, by working extra long days, ignoring breaks, skipping meals, not getting enough sleep and exercising infrequently or not at all. These energy leeches lead to foggy decision-making, diminished quality and creativity of work outcomes, and limited revenues.
The bottom line is that it is really, really hard, if not impossible, for the human brain to come up with new, fresh ideas when its owner is overworked, overtired and stressed out. Practicing these three critical energy boosters will allow you to think more clearly, make better decisions, and thus leverage your three sources of power: energy, time and money. And, you are likely to find yourself developing more productive working relationships with clients and colleagues.
Whenever possible create a standard work schedule. Set boundaries around your workday. Take breaks at least every 90 minutes. Do not allow weekends and evening to be used to make up time. If we manage ourselves efficiently during the day, we eliminate the need for weekend and evening work.
Practice
extreme self-care. Get regular exercise and plenty of sleep. Eight hours
each night is recommended for optimal functioning. Every minute of exercise adds
two minutes to your life; 20 minutes just three times a week adds years, and the
activity increases brainpower, clarity and focused attention.
Never
skip a meal again. Eat six times daily, three meals and three snacks, at
regular intervals. Eat real rather than processed foods, and balanced meals.
Choose a protein as the main nutrient in your meal, and add some healthy fats, natural carbohydrates and non-starchy vegetables. Eat solid food and drink plenty of water.
Steps for success: Honoring these best practices is not always a top priority and the distractions of work and daily life can make it a challenge. Select one small change, such as taking a five-minute break every 90 minutes, and use a timer as a friendly reminder to pause. As you boost your energy you will be more focused, centered and relaxed; save time at work, produce ideas that are more creative and hit your daily targets with greater ease. What are you waiting for?
Winter 2006 -Volume 17, Number 1