From Foggy to Focused: 7 Tips to Fuel Your Productivity
Why are you struggling to focus?
As much as I love and have dedicated myself to productivity and time management, there are still days where I can’t seem to shake the distractions.
I find myself going back to this “fake productivity” where I plow through a lot of low-leverage tasks, checking the boxes which I know aren’t helping me move forward on my goals, simply for a quick hit of that sweet, sweet dopamine.
Then I sprinkle in a few YouTube shorts and a quick chess blitz match on my chess.com app and I’m left wondering why I got a lot of nothing done at the end of the day.
It’s as if a fog has settled over my brain leaving me feeling sluggish, distractable, and unclear.
What is causing this?
Often times I realize I’ve neglected to consider what I’ve been consuming…
What You Put in Determines What You Get Out
Many of you reading this are naturally motivated, high-achieving go-getters.
When you meet a problem, your first strategy might be to put your head down, forge ahead, and strong-will yourself through the haze.
Often times this can work and may be just what you need.
But what if that isn’t working?
What if the barriers you are experiencing aren’t external but, rather, internal?
In a world of high speed and convenience, it’s easy to disregard the foods we are putting in our bodies.
We know that our nutrition is important for overall health and wellness but we can forget that what we eat and drink directly impacts our brain function and ability to focus.
That Snickers bar might stop your hunger but will only add to the fog.
Those donuts your patient or colleague brought into the office are great but too many can leave you lethargic.
And a poorly timed carb-heavy meal you shoveled in while working through lunch to catch up on emails or documentation may be the reason for your comatose stare during your first afternoon appointment.
Oddly specific? I know.
Which is why I’ve come up with a list of tactics to help me and others fuel our bodies and brains and get the focus we need in our day…
7 Tips to Fuel Your Productivity:
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Plan Your Meals for the Week
When it comes to lowering the barriers to resisting the urge to eat poorly throughout the week, few things are more powerful than having a game plan ahead of time. It doesn’t need to be every single meal. You can choose to plan just one meal for each day of the week which can help deter the desire to reach for the bag of chips because you know what you’re having later.
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Keep Healthier Options on Hand
Speaking of reaching for that bag of chips, try hiding those saltier and sweeter options and make it easier to grab a quick healthy snack. This is another simple way to automate your nutrition and make it harder to consume unhealthy foods.
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Cook More at Home
By cooking at home, you impede the inclination to make a quick pit stop at the local drive through. The leftovers can be used for lunch the next day. And make it fun! Try new recipes. Cook with a friend or your spouse. My wife and I often have great conversations when we cook together (yes, even when our children are losing their minds before dinner).
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Avoid Processed Foods
Not all processed foods are bad for you. But the closer your food is to the original state in which it was grown, the better. Foods high in sugar with refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats are more likely to affect your not only your productivity but also your long term health and wellness. Try to avoid these and look for healthier options.
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Hydrate Often
This is an important one not only because water is good for you but also because it takes up space in your stomach and reduces your body’s sensation of hunger. This will help to get you to your next meal with less temptation to grab those unhealthy processed snacks.
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Track Your Habits
I’m a sucker for tracking habits and analyzing the data. It can be revealing to see when or how often you are snacking, how much you are consuming, or the kinds of foods you are drawn to. This can sometimes be the insight you need to make some changes.
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Make Small Changes
And this just wouldn’t be a productivity blog if I didn’t mention something about the necessity to start small. Everyone has a different way of approaching their diet, but it’s no secret that if you try to take on too much you might be disappointed later or find that you are right back where you started. So decide on 1 or 2 nutritional tips on which to make progress and improve your focus.
If you want clarity on what is clouding your focus and productivity, book a call or leave a comment below.
When you find your focus, you lose the overwhelm and gain clarity and confidence on what matters most.
And this is exactly what I want for you.
What we put in our bodies directly impacts what we get out. By choosing a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods and eating regular, balanced meals, we can improve our brain function and ability to focus.
So next time you’re feeling foggy, think about what you’ve been eating and make some healthier choices to help you stay sharp and focused.
Do you have any other strategies to help fuel your productivity? Let me know in the comments!