While I was at the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference this week in Birmingham I was in one presentation that discussed the value of energy in optimising performance.
Anyone who reads the blog, seen the main site and knows my values will know that I am a big supporter of living a healthy lifestyle to not just look better and get lean or drop a clothes size but to perform better because there definitely is a strong relationship between how healthy you are and how well you perform in life.
This is obvious in sports, that is why athletes across all sports train and live as they do so why shouldn’t it be the same for sitting at a desk or presenting a case in court or working in a warehouse. You are going to perform better because of improved fitness and energy levels.
Sometimes it painfully obvious to me that my performance will suffer whichever task I am performing if I do not have the optimal energy to perform it.
In the presentation there was one slide that captured my interest especially called “The 7 Habits of Highly Energised People”. The title is a play on one of the most successful books around by a guy called Stephen R Covey named “The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People” that discusses an approach to solving personal and professional problems using a process of 7 key points.
The 7 Habits of Highly energised people is even more important as far as I’m concerned (maybe the presenter who wrote them should write a book like Covey?) because you 100% without doubt need that energy to be able to control your performance and carry out the habits that Covey discusses.
Here they are…
1. Make the right nutrition choices - Stay hydrated, eat on a regular basis, do not rely on stimulants to create energy for starters.
2. Balance rest and activity - Activity is your business of work initially. Create a better balance by doing more activity outside of your work but also create some time for total rest and relaxation where your mind can switch off totally.
3. Have a healthy relationship with technology - Don’t let your phone, emails and Internet rule your life, get away from them and don’t over rely on them. Do not let your relationships be governed by technology, we all need face to face, physical relationships.
4. Have strong supportive relationships - Have people within your circle that you can discuss anything with and share any emotion with.
5. Manage perfectionism - Do a good job but don’t let your energy be sapped by trying to do a perfect job. Perfection will never come, aim for excellence instead. Striving for excellence motivates you, striving for perfection is demoralizing.
6. Realistic optimism - Aim high, set realistic timescales that still push you and motivate you rather than so unrealistic that they defeat you before you get started. Inspire yourself.
7. Your values and vision - Know what is important to you and why
Whether you goal is to burn fat or live and work with energy, these habits I’m sure will help create more energy for you to succeed.
It gave me food for thought that I can improve especially in creating a better balance by taking time out each day to relax and I don’t mean by watching the TV but proper relaxation whether it be some light reading, a drink with a friend or some light meditation.
Where can you improve? Let me know where you think energy is being squandered in your life and pursuit of goals and happiness.
Mike
Dream, Act and Succeed
One Comment
Hi Mike,
I remember from my skool physics days - energy can neither be created nor destroyed!
So like your article because it’s put healthy living into perspective. Its pays to be in tune with your body - to know not only what you can take out - but also when you need to put back in.
Noel Lyons