We are all trying to squeeze more out of our days. Nearly everyone in the workforce at has, at least once, strived to be more productive without working more hours. To be more productive, you need fuel to work, and that fuel comes in the form of food. The good news is that there are plenty of edible items you can consume that can increase your focus, help your memory and even boost your mood. These foods are not rare or difficult to find. Keep reading to learn more about all of the foods you should eat to be more productive each and every day.
Also read:The Best Free Productivity Courses to Improve Yourself
Blueberries
Packed with antioxidants, blueberries do far more than just help fight off disease or stop you from bloating. Blueberries have been linked to enhancing your cognitive abilities. What that means is that “brain berries” can help protect against memory loss while increasing your ability to concentrate. Unfortunately, “blueberries” does not mean blueberry muffins. Instead, consume these on their own to get the maximum boost out of each bite. Of course, you can also add them to breakfast favorites like oatmeal for a true winning combination.
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Speaking of oatmeal, it too is another food that is the perfect way to start the day. Consume a bowl of steel cut oatmeal each morning for some rich carbohydrates that are as filling as they are tasty. More importantly, steel cut oatmeal adds numerous health benefits, including significantly less sugar than instant oatmeal. The higher fiber count ensures that you will feel fuller longer. On the productivity side, this breakfast treat will help you sustain more energy throughout your morning. On its own, it can give you a huge boost in productivity before you start to come down and feel hunger pains before lunch. In addition, fiber helps lower cholesterol and provides a boost to your immunity.
Green Tea
As hard as it may be, it’s time to forget the coffee. Instead, look to a much healthier option with green tea. The lower caffeine count (30 milligrams vs. 200 milligrams in coffee) will prevent you from the crash and burn that coffee is best known for. Once that rush of caffeine wears off, both your productivity and you can hit a standstill. Green tea is a standalone natural energy enhancer that doesn’t just help you shred fat. It can also help fight off mental fatigue and allows you to focus better. That’s reason enough to keep a box of green tea nearby.
Almonds
Snacking is something we all do, and that is perfectly okay. Gone are the days where three meals a day are all you need. However – it’s the type of snack food that matters most. When you feel your productivity start to wane, reach for a bowl of almonds, pecans, cashews, etc. All of these nuts are a terrific source of protein and fiber as well as essential vitamins. These specialized foods are full of brain fuel that not only help slow your digestion of carbs but maintain your sugar levels throughout the day. That ensures your focus will be steady and your productivity will increase, thanks to your increased energy levels.
Salmon
As lunchtime rolls around, look at salmon to give your body a superfood boost. Salmon is full of essential nutrients including high levels of B-vitamins, protein, potassium, iron and zinc. It is high on omega-3 fatty acids content which can help with improving mental performance as well as improving your mood. Salmon is undoubtedly one of the more costly foods that will increase your productivity, but the benefits outweigh the costs. The opportunity to consume a lunch and see an almost immediate boost to your focus can often help you look past a little extra cost.
Dark Chocolate
This is the one item on this list everyone has been waiting for. Over the years, it’s become more and more believable that taken in moderation, dark chocolate can help improve brain health. To be clear, this is not all chocolate, though that would be pretty great. Dark chocolate is not the same as the milky, sugary variety that you just cannot put down. Not only will dark chocolate satisfy your sweet tooth, but the caffeine content is just enough to help you feel more energetic and focused. The inclusion of magnesium is even something of a stress reliever. Health benefits aside, you still need to take dark chocolate in moderation.
Avocados
A great source of fatty acids, avocados are a great way to keep productivity moving in the right direction. This popular food helps naturally stimulate the flow of blood through the brain and body which will help you feel energized. All of that extra energy is quickly translated into increased productivity. Stimulating your brain cells, avocados are a fantastic source of heart-healthy fats. What’s more is that you can pair avocados with just about everything these days. The avocado toast phase is still in high gear, which is great if you pair it up with whole grains for a tasty combination.
Water
Water doesn’t qualify as a food, but it’s just as important for keeping your productivity up. Your body is more than 70 percent water, and every body function depends on this critical liquid. As time passes each day, our body’s water storage levels also deplete. Lose enough water and your body suffers, including your productivity levels. Keep drinking throughout the day (eight glasses per day is still the prevailing theory) to ensure your brain has everything it needs to keep your body going.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of foods you can enjoy that have incredible benefits to keep us living longer, healthier and smarter. It’s true that not all of them taste as good as dark chocolate, but there is no shortage of delicious options that taste as good as they look. If you’d like to learn more about how your lifestyle affects your ability to get things done, check out how proper sleep affects productivity.