One of the common mistakes small business entrepreneurs make is to get into unhealthy habits. What you eat has a direct influence on your moods, stress levels, and in particular on your energy levels. When you eat unhealthy foods, your body has to work harder to digest the food, which effort reduces the energy the body has available for other activities, such as thinking creatively.
If you want to get out of the house for a while, it is easy to nip down to the local shop and buy fish and chips, a greasy hamburger, or other fast food for your lunch. You may even justify this to yourself by saying you needed a break from the computer and wanted some fresh air. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a break and getting some fresh air, you still owe it your body to provide healthy food.
Remember to eat a balanced diet, with fast food being an occasional treat instead of an every day occurrence. It really does not take that long to make a healthy salad or sandwich at home and you could actually find it pays off in terms of productivity in your afternoon.
Without a good amount of fibre, from fresh fruits and vegetables, your body finds it extremely difficult to eliminate waste products. Drinking plenty of water is also essential for bodily health and to help your organs eliminate toxins from your body. If you don’t drink enough water or eat enough fibre, you can find that your body feels sluggish and you can even become depressed or more easily stressed.
Foods high in salt content can increase your blood pressure and can clog your arteries, making it harder for your blood to flow through your body. A diet high in salt and fatty foods will not only make your body feel sluggish, but will affect your ability to work effectively. This can add to your stress levels, because you can wonder why it is so hard to concentrate and blame yourself for not achieving your daily goals, when the problem could simply be what you ate for lunch.
Instead of heading for the pantry and grabbing that packet of chips or the chocolate bar when you want a snack, try heading for the fruit bowl instead, or try munching on a carrot dipped in a healthy dip, such as tzsaki dip. Carbohydrates and sugars are harder for your body to digest and will often make it harder for you to concentrate while your body is digesting this treat.
Many small business people who work from home find the kitchen is a drawcard when feeling unmotivated or uninspired. It is very easy to snack constantly throughout the day, eating more than you need to, just because you are eating instead of working. Eating is a great way of procrastinating because it is so easy to do. Unfortunately, all these extra calories add up, making it harder you to feel healthy, alive, and refreshed when you work.
When you work at home, it is important to eat healthy meals and snacks, with only the occasional treat. If you find yourself gravitating to the kitchen when you are bored, need a break, or feeling uninspired, you need to make some new habits. Make a rule with yourself that you will only eat at regular hours. In between these regular meals and planned snacks, you will only drink water, tea, or coffee.
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photo credit: SanFranAnnie
