When you’re a busy professional, your eating habits can really suffer. It’s easy to skip meals because you’re too busy or grab fattening fast food because you’re on the move or tired after a long day. Not only do these choices affect your health, but they can eventually start affecting your career. Poor nutrition leaves you without the fuel your mind and body need to keep up with a demanding work schedule.
Fortunately, it’s totally possible to stay focused on your career without sacrificing your health. Start overhauling your eating habits with these four tips.
Get Your Day Off to a Strong Start.
You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day hundreds of time — and you’ll keep hearing it because it’s true. Time and time again, skipping breakfast has been linked to obesity and other health problems.
It’s not enough to wolf down a bowl of cereal, though. Make your first meal of the day count by choosing foods that will help you feel full longer, such as whole grains, healthy fats, and proteins. Refined carbs like white bread and sugary cereal will leave you craving more food in just a couple of hours.
Make Your Own Convenience Foods.
The best entrepreneurs don’t wait for the perfect opportunity to drop into their lap; instead, they make their own luck by putting in the work required to shift the odds in their favor. That same tried-and-true principle applies to your eating habits.
Prepacked foods are easy to grab and take with you. Unfortunately, they’re often highly processed and packed full of unhealthy ingredients. Instead of relying on vending machines and convenience stores for on-the-go snacks, try to reproduce healthier versions at home. Keep them handy, so you’re never tempted to resort to a candy bar or a bag of chips. Award yourself bonus points for snacks that don’t require refrigeration, since these can be kept in your purse, briefcase, car, desk, or wherever else you might need them.
Choose the Best Possible Option.
No matter how much you plan ahead, there will still be times when you’re too exhausted to cook or you forgot to pack your own lunch or snacks. The trick is to plan for those times, too. Do your research. Have a plan for where you’ll eat and what you’ll order if you end up at a restaurant. Know which convenience snacks to avoid at all costs and which are fine in moderation.
Track Your Goals and Performance.
Career-minded individuals tend to excel at setting goals and working towards them, taking concrete steps and tracking progress for motivation. With a fitness tracking apps and devices, you can take the same approach to your diet. For instance, you can use Lifesum to log your meals and monitor your eating habits. Tracking everything you eat will help you hold yourself accountable, see where you’re going wrong, and make better choices.
If you want to keep giving 100 percent to your career, you can’t afford to let bad eating habits slide. Rather than leaving your next meal to chance, be intentional about taking care of your body. Staying healthy will help you keep your career on track and reach your goals.
