Food Is The Killer Of Productivity
I'll let you in on a little secret, the easiest way to increase your productivity doesn't come in the form of a powder, a food or a nootropic supplement.
You don't need to blow your money on Alpha Brain or Modafinil, there's no doubt that these supplements will aid your focus and productivity... but if you're eating excessive amounts of food or specifically starting your day with a big breakfast you're setting yourself up for failure from the get-go.
Over the past 6 months I've been following a strict intermittent fasting style of diet, however for a slightly different reason than most people...
Intermittent fasting is often discussed to be the ultimate fat loss diet that'll have those excess pounds melting off you in minutes - that's no exactly true, fat loss comes down to a caloric deficit which intermittent fasting can make it easier for you to implement.
I started intermittent fasting because in a fasted state my focus, energy and motivation to get shit done is at an all time high.
No tricks, no stupid supplement, hell... I didn't even change my diet itself at all, I simply adjusted the time at which I consume my first meal.
Hunt Like A Lion
Think of yourself like a lion, when you're in a fasted state you're quick, agile, motivated... you're on the hunt and you're out to kill.
This is your body in a fasted state, before you've consumed your first meal.
Once that lion finds and kills his prey he feasts, consuming a lot of food in one sitting. Once the lion has eaten he's slowed down, he's lost his performance, he begins to tire, he slows down and no longer has the desire to push forward as he did when on the hunt.
Once You Feast prepare To Slow Down
Up until a year ago within 15 minutes of waking up I'd always be shovelling down oats, protein powder, a banana and a cup full of blueberries... this is considered a 'healthy breakfast' but consuming 800~ calories so early in the morning left me feeling lethargic and unproductive, however I did not realise this at the time - I thought I was feeling fine.
I decided to give intermittent fasting a try, which I found near impossible for the first few weeks - after spending years eating within 15 minutes of waking up it took some time before I was able to endure 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 hours from waking up until consuming my first meal - if you've never fasted before I recommend slowly working your way up to your desired length of fast as I found out first hand it can be quite unbearable at first.
These days I consume my first meal mid-afternoon. After I've been to the gym, after I've ticked the important tasks off my t0-do list for the day that require focus and energy to complete.
I don't find myself hitting the 'mid day wall' that is universally experienced and dreaded in offices around the world.
Once I'm ready to slow down I eat, I consume the same number of calories as before, I either burn fat or gain muscle mass dependant on this caloric number... eveything else remains the same except the immense focus, energy & productivity gains I'm able to reap from Intermittent fasting.
Intermittent Fasting Has A Few Other Benefits Too...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh0LclDcE1Y
Try Intermittent Fasting & Watch Your Productivity, Focus & Energy Increase!
If you've ever dismissed intermittent fasting and never actually tried it (which I did for years) I recommend giving it a try for one week.
Over the course of a week take note of:
Your energy in the gym
You'll find yourself feeling lighter, with more energy particularly when you're deep amidst your workout.
Your focus reading, writing or working
Your attention to detail, motivation and overall productivity will be boosted. Whether you're reading or book or writing a research paper you'll find yourself working far more efficiently when in a fasted state.
Your energy levels
Mid day crash? Nope! Fasting through the morning as opposed to slowing your body down and burdening it with the task of digesting large amounts of food early on in the day will leave you energy levels running low as the afternoon approaches...
If you fasted your way through the morning your energy will remain strong throughout the afternoon as you continue to crush your tasks like a lion.
