8 Things in Your Daily Routine That Decrease Your Mental Performance
You probably had a day or two when you were in absolute control over your schedule. You planned to complete all tasks during your productivity peaks and you did everything according to plan. Although you worked a lot, you weren’t tired and you had the rest of the day to engage in your hobby or to spend some time with your friends. But that was an exception.
If you find that you cannot keep up with the most productive version of yourself all the time, you probably have bad habits that are killing your effectiveness. There are specific habits that most people consider natural. These habits, however, decrease their mental performance and disrupt their productivity.
- Skipping Breakfast
Breakfast is the easiest meal to skip. You think that all you need is coffee and maybe some biscuits to start the day. You see this as an opportunity to eat less and lose some weight. No; you’re not going to lose weight by skipping breakfast because you’ll be hungry and you’ll eat more throughout the rest of the day. But you are going to lose something: your productivity.
A healthy, nutritious breakfast is more important than you think. First of all, a meal that’s high in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients will give you lots of energy. However, it will also improve your focus and performance.
- Sleeping With Your Head Under the Cover
You don’t know why you’re doing it. You have several excuses, such as “The cover isolates me from light and sounds.” The true excuse, however, is that this is just a bad habit and you could easily get rid of it if you wanted to.
When you sleep with your head under the cover, you deprive yourself of oxygen. Your brain needs oxygen to perform! It’s no wonder you’re waking up dizzy.
Install good blinds, so the light won’t disturb you too early in the morning. Don't forget the ear tampons if you live in a noisy environment. That will help you keep the cover in its place, which is not over your head.
- Skipping the Planning Process
A workday wears you off. At the evening, you have no energy left, so you stay in front of the TV and wait for bedtime. Making plans for tomorrow is the last thing on your mind. Planning, however, is not something you should skip.
“Setting specific goals for the next day puts everything in motion,” – says Peter Noir, career advisor for ResumesPlanet. “Saying I want to do my best tomorrow is not the same thing as planning how you’ll do your best. When you specify your goals into a schedule, you’ll start the next day with a fully focused mindset.”
- Staying Passive
When you work, you work. You show up, you do your best, and you get the rest of the day off. If that’s your motto, then you’re doing it wrong, especially if your work involves sitting on a chair or staying in a specific position for several hours a day.
Researchers found that exercising at work helps people boost their performance. Your body needs movement, so it will recharge its batteries. Try stretching in between tasks! You’ll notice immediate improvements in your productivity levels.
- Smoking
Why do you smoke? – Because nicotine got you addicted. It’s a powerful stimulant and relaxant. Depending on the user, the effects range from stimulation to relaxation. Whatever the case is, smoking is a bad habit and it’s seriously affecting your daily routine.
First of all, you have to make frequent breaks so you’ll get your much-needed doses of nicotine. When you get back to your work, you’ve already disrupted the routine and lost focus. Smoking also deprives your body of the much-needed oxygen. What can you do about it? Quit! It’s hard, but you have to do your best if you want to live your life to the fullest.
- Carbs
Biscuits for breakfast. Pasta for lunch. Pizza for dinner. Chocolate in between all these meals.
Is that how an average day of yours looks like? If the answer is yes, then you must know that carbs are killing your performance. Weight is an issue, but it’s not the only one. Carbs also slow down your intellect and affect your memory functions.
We’re not saying you should stop eating carbs once and for all. We’re just recommending a healthier diet full of fruits and veggies. When you get used to it, you won’t even think about ordering pizza for dinner.
- Not Drinking Enough Water
Drinking too much water makes you go to the bathroom, and you think that disturbs your workflow. Yes; you’ll need to disrupt the work more often if you drink more water, but guess what: you’ll also be cleansing your body and improving the nutrient absorption in your stomach.
Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning is especially beneficial. Lemons are full of Vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. That’s enough to spike your energy levels and make you feel fresh.
- Skipping the Morning Shower
An evening shower is the most relaxing part of your pre-bed routine. That’s great! If you enjoy a shower in the evening, you should definitely keep up with that routine. But that doesn’t mean you can skip the morning shower.
Sure; you prefer staying in bed for 20 more minutes. But if you get up and take a morning shower, you’ll shake off sleep inertia and you’ll get your mind going. Try this routine: get up, take a quick shower, enjoy a healthy breakfast, and get going!
When you recognize the things that decrease your mental performance, you’ll be able to change your daily routine in a way that makes you more productive. Are you ready to make that happen?
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