In an ideal world, we would bring our A-Game to work 100% of the time. We would be motivated, efficient, energised and engaged every day, all day. However, although we can aim for that daily, and work extremely hard to perform at our best most of the time, there are days where it is just not possible. That’s fine! We’re humans, not machines.
When the workplace blues strike, it can be difficult to overcome those feelings of disconnection: what are we doing here? why did we apply to this job to begin with? Does it all really matter? This is detrimental to your health, and your work, but getting yourself out of that negative state of mind and into that A-Game mentality can be harder than it looks – so we’ve compiled a list to help you out.
First, to perform at your best you need to take care of yourself. This means eating well, sleeping well and exercising regularly. Ever heard the saying, ‘you are what you eat?’ It’s true: what we eat affects the way we function. A research study by Harvard Business Review found that the more fruit and vegetables people consumed, the happier, more engaged, and more creative they were. Fruit and vegetables contain vital nutrients that foster the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the experience of curiosity, motivation, and engagement. When we don’t take the time to eat properly we are not giving our body the fuel it needs to function at its best, which makes those down-in-the-dumps feelings harder to fight.
Exercise regularly. Besides being good for us, working out is a great outlet for relieving stress and a great distraction from daily pressures. Exercising regularly helps to prevent feelings of depression and other mental blocks that make success hard to achieve. If you find it difficult to stick to an exercise routine – don’t fret, everyone struggles with it. Treat your workout as an essential element to your success. It’s not just something you should do; it’s something you must do. Schedule 30 minutes to an hour of workout time into your day and just make it happen, no excuses. You’ll feel so good once you do it!
Sleeping well is also imperative. A tip to all snoozers: resist the temptation to oversleep and mess up your sleep cycle. This is what often causes us to feel groggy most of the morning.
Build good relationships with those around you. Human beings are gregarious; we are naturally social creatures who crave friendship and positive interactions. The better our relationships are at work, the happier and more productive we are. By making the effort to make friends, we yield several benefits; our work becomes more enjoyable, we feel more supported, and things are generally lighter and more pleasant. This allows you to perform at a much higher level because you are focusing on the work rather than wasting energy on things that dont really matter.
Finally, for you to bring your A-game, you have to adopt a positive mindset and a can-do attitude. Negativity only holds us back. So: goodbye complaining, hello problem-solving.
The recipe for A-game rejuvination? An ounce of good care for yourself both mentally and physically, a nice dose of friendship and a dollop of positivity! In no time you’ll be bringing your A-Game to work and feeling great about it.
