17. |
Master Your Energy |
To be truly happy, productive, and successful, you need physical, mental, and emotional energy. Unfortunately, for many people, just mustering enough energy to get through the day can be a major task. If you take the time to examine the lifestyle and habits of today’s typical individual, it’s not hard to see why so many people have difficulty.
Often people are jolted awake, after too little sleep, by an alarm clock. Their waking thoughts are usually about how they wish they didn’t have to wake up so early.
Rushing into their day, many opt for a fast-food breakfast, typically consisting of coffee or some other caffeinated drink and a bagel, muffin, doughnut, or some heavy carbohydrate, often eaten and drunk while en route to work. Now their insulin level is artificially spiked, causing a rise in blood sugar. They are in a mental fog from their high-carb intake (not to mention the fact that over time this kind of diet can lead to obesity and diabetes). On their way to work they are either on their cell phone or beginning to worry about what they need to do that day. Since they were rushed from the start, they probably left for work late, so they are also worried about their tardiness.
Their stress level is already dangerously high — and they haven’t even arrived at work yet.
They manage to survive till their first break, at which time another shot of caffeine with a side of carbs gives them a much-needed spike so they can make it until lunchtime. During this break they may also engage in several conversations with negative coworkers about what’s wrong with the company, their job, and the world in general.
As far-fetched as this scenario may sound, it’s a fairly accurate description of an average employee’s morning. With a few variations, this cycle continues until, exhausted at the end of the day, he flops into bed to try to get a decent night’s sleep, but not before watching the late-night news on TV just to make sure that he’s gotten his dose of negativity for the day.
Is it any wonder that so many people are burned-out, angry, depressed, and aging faster than they ever thought possible?
Here are some suggestions to help you break that pattern, feel better, and have more energy throughout your day.
• For starters, make sure you get enough sleep. Most people require at least seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
• To help you get adequate sleep, avoid caffeine in the evening. The effects of caffeine remain in your system for about six to seven hours after you consume it.
• Make a point of having a high-protein breakfast. This will give your body what it needs to get going.
• As suggested in chapter 15, before you get out of bed, ask yourself one or two empowering questions such as, “What am I grateful for today?” or “What am I looking forward to today?” This will start your mind moving in a more positive direction, and because like attracts like, these questions will begin inspiring similar thoughts.
• Leave yourself plenty of time for your commute. Arriving early gives you time to settle in before you start your workday.
• Do your best to avoid the negative conversations that exist in just about every company. We’ll discuss this in detail later in the book (see chapter 56).
• If you must watch the evening news, or read a news website or newspaper, do it earlier in the evening. The last thing you want to do is take all that horror and negativity into your dream state.
Just making these relatively simple changes to your lifestyle will go a long way toward raising your energy level and helping you feel better both at work and at home.