{"id":110262,"date":"2018-10-09T22:12:04","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T22:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=110262"},"modified":"2025-07-01T22:55:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T05:55:25","slug":"how-your-diet-can-affect-your-productivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/how-your-diet-can-affect-your-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"How your diet can affect your productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Productivity isn\u2019t just about calendars and to-do lists. There\u2019s a lot that comes into play. How well did we sleep, how are things going at home, or with that new relationship?<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s what we eat.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard the old saying; you are what you eat. But, it\u2019s worth repeating.<\/p>\n

Research from scientists at Brigham Young University found that employees with unhealthy diets are\u00a066% more likely to report lost productivity<\/a> than their health-conscious counterparts.<\/p>\n

And while that statistic is what’s behind employers’ sudden push toward wellness programs and health initiatives, it’s worth examining how your eating habits are getting in the way of your to-dos.<\/p>\n

How your diet can affect your productivity<\/h2>\n

Simple carbs may be the culprit<\/h3>\n

\"eating<\/p>\n

Ever notice how making the wrong choice at lunch can lead to a midday slump?<\/p>\n

The reason for this is certain foods like pasta, bread, sugary snacks release their glucose right away. So, up front, you\u2019ll get a burst of energy, followed by a hard crash.<\/p>\n

Bottom line\u2014opt for a big plate of noodles at lunch and you\u2019ll regret it with heavy eyelids later in the day.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t skip meals<\/h3>\n

When we get busy, sometimes we forget to eat. And, in all honesty, it doesn\u2019t seem like a huge deal to skip breakfast in favor of more sleep. Working through lunch can give you a head start on preparing for your presentation. Why eat when there’s better stuff to do?<\/p>\n

The fact is, we need<\/em> that \u201cfuel\u201d to make it through the day. Our brains consume about 20% of our body\u2019s total energy<\/a>. As such, skipping meals can wreak havoc on your productivity, placing you further behind than you\u2019d be if you took a few minutes to eat lunch.<\/p>\n

Instead, make sure you eat a healthy breakfast. Whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and lean protein are your best bets. It doesn\u2019t take much to eat a hardboiled egg or Greek yogurt on the way out the door, right?<\/p>\n

Try eating smaller meals, more often<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Your brain needs glucose and fat to keep going. Glucose provides a quick boost, as mentioned, while fat provides a sustained source of energy. We break down fat at a much slower rate, bringing more sustained energy to the table.<\/p>\n

Snacking throughout the day can keep us feeling sharp. So, consider bringing fruit, hummus, and carrots, an avocado, or some whole grain crackers to the office. This way, you won\u2019t be tempted by things like cookies or chips that don\u2019t do us any favors.<\/p>\n

Oh, and don\u2019t forget to drink water<\/h3>\n

While water doesn\u2019t exactly qualify as food, staying hydrated has a huge impact on our work performance. As the day wears on, our water levels begin to decrease, which can impact our brain function. Aim for eight glasses of water a day for best results.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s hard for you to make room for good old H20, invest in a big water bottle and make sure you fill it up each day. Or, download the Daily Water \u2014 Drink Reminder App<\/a> for some extra motivation.<\/p>\n

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Diets impact sleep, too<\/h3>\n

Our bodies operate on something called circadian rhythms, which tell us when we’re tired and dictate the times we feel most alert.<\/p>\n

Now, not everyone is on the same circadian cycle–as evidenced by that test that determines whether you’re a lark or an owl<\/a> or whatever. But, consistency is vital.<\/p>\n

It’s smart to keep track of which times are most productive for you and plan your tasks and meals around your schedule.<\/p>\n

But, back to sleep.<\/p>\n

Plenty of things can mess with your circadian rhythms, but one of the main things is nutrition. What<\/em> you eat and when<\/em> you eat impacts how well we sleep. Follow your internal clock when planning your meals, so you’re not awake or wiped out at the wrong times.<\/p>\n

In terms of eating for better sleep, there’s a reason that “they” say you’re supposed to eat your most substantial meal in the morning. Overeating in the evening signals to the brain that it’s time to get things done. Additionally, fatty foods are better for earlier in the day, keeping you going through the morning. Healthy fats like salmon, avocado, and nuts<\/p>\n

In the evening, switch gears. Foods like poultry and eggs contain tryptophan, which will help you fall asleep. Calcium and magnesium help the body process sleep hormones, promoting better sleep, and whole grains and white rice help tryptophan take effect.<\/p>\n

So–for dinner, try eating something like chicken with rice and kale–tasty, healthy, and perfect for winding down at the end of the day.<\/p>\n

How to get ahead of bad diet decisions<\/h3>\n

For one, planning is the best defense against reaching for a cheeseburger in desperation. Don\u2019t decide what to eat when you\u2019re starving. Choose where to go for lunch after you\u2019ve had a snack.<\/p>\n

If you have time, make sure you stock up on healthy snacks and easy meal ingredients ahead of the work week. So, stock up on yogurts (no-sugar-added!), almonds, protein bars, and smoothie ingredients.<\/p>\n

Make a point of eating produce every day. This 2015 study found that eating fruits and vegetables is linked to \u201cgreater flourishing\u201d in daily life<\/a>. Meaning, people who eat produce felt more curious and engaged with their daily activities.<\/p>\n

Eating healthy no doubt has an impact on how we feel and how we look, but also how we work. So, if that means you need to fill your desk drawer with protein bars, apples, and berries, so be it.<\/p>\n\n

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Looking to boost your productivity? Your food could be the key.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9161,"featured_media":110793,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[2441],"tags":[],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-110262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9161"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110262"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":327244,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110262\/revisions\/327244"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110262"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=110262"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=110262"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=110262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}