We’ve all been there, spending endless hours working at a desk in front of a computer screen or as a road warrior, traveling from one client to another without stopping. You slowly realize it’s been a long time since you’ve moved away from your desk, eaten a meal, or taken a break.
Our energy levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day. Most of us ignore our bodies signals and plow doggedly onward. That is usually the start of brain fog and energy loss when we find that even simpler tasks become more onerous, requiring more effort and time.
The infamous afternoon slump will send us reaching for carbs and coffee. Dehydration also plays a significant factor, leading to head and body aches. We need proper rest periods to refresh our muscles and stimulate our brains. Recognizing our body rhythms can help us combat work fatigue and find solutions to boost our energy and increase productivity.
Learn Your Chronotype
A circadian rhythm governs us. Chronotypes define when people are most productive based on their personality type and sleep patterns. Using this classification tool of four different personality types can be helpful to identify when we work at our peak level and adjust our daily schedule to increase productivity healthily.
- Lions are overachievers, positive thinkers, and athletic. They’re in bed by ten, up with the birds, and typically experience peak productivity during morning hours until noon.
- Dolphins are intelligent, introverted, prone to anxiety, and detail-oriented. They retire around eleven thirty, up around six thirty, and experience productivity mid-afternoon to mid-evening.
- Bears are extroverted, upbeat, in bed by eleven, up by seven, and work best between the hours of ten and two.
- Wolves are intense, creative, and introverted, retiring around midnight, up by seven, and doing their best work during the evening.
Boosting Energy While at Work
Entrepreneurs may ignore their body signals while pushing toward deadlines, having more of a flexible time structure and without colleagues to remind them of the importance of taking breaks. Here are some valuable tips for maintaining your energy throughout the day.
- Drink more water and less caffeine. Caffeine in small quantities helps but too much leads to dehydration and a tendency to skip energy-boosting meals.
- Commune with nature. Just a short walk can recharge your mind and body. Arrange a walking party to brainstorm ideas and troubleshoot problems.
- Eat a healthy, balanced lunch and forgo the carbs that only make you feel sluggish.
- Enjoy a power nap or find a quiet place to meditate for several minutes. Give your eyes a break from the computer screen.
- Make time for the gym and create a daily routine to break up the day.
The Company Solution
Companies are taking a closer look at how to improve productivity in the workplace, recognizing how people respond to different schedules. Some improvements include rest and play areas, gyms, functioning kitchens, hybrid work models, and fun challenges to motivate employees. Some companies now offer improved health plans and increased holiday time in recognition of the importance of mental health. The results speak for themselves in improved morale and productivity.
Speak to the admin team at Business Workspaces to learn more about local healthy food restaurant choices, relaxing parks, and fitness facilities within the vicinity to get you on the road to a more sustainable and energetic daily work schedule.
