In today's work environment we are often asked to do more with fewer available resources. No resource is as valuable as time, and there are only so many hours in the day. Addressing this issue effectively, and ensuring that we are maximizing our time, requires us to bring more energy to the workplace. We can accomplish this by:

Eating Right

Instead of eating one or two big meals per day, eat five meals a day to maintain balanced energy. Consuming large amounts of calories at one time, especially if they are carbohydrate-laden, can cause counter-productive spikes in blood sugar. You may have energy for a short time, but can feel the negative effects hours later when your blood sugar crashes. In addition to eating a normal breakfast-lunch-dinner, add a light snack at mid-morning and mid-afternoon. This can consist of a piece of fruit, a small cup of yogurt, or almonds; and it will help you maintain consistent blood sugar, a primary driver of energy, throughout the day.

Sleeping Regularly

Most doctors and sleep experts recommend at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is nature's way of allowing us to recover from the stressors of the day. Mental alertness, energy, and physical endurance are all enhanced when an individual follows consistent sleep habits. Also, try to avoid relying on "make-up" sleep. Many people think that they can sleep 4-5 hours a night during the week and counter-balance by sleeping 9-10 hours per night on the weekends. Your mind and body will be more consistently at their peak if you are able smooth out the peaks and valleys and sleep similar times and amounts each day.

Exercise

Many people rationalize not exercising by trotting out excuses like "I don't have time." It is true that finding time to exercise can be a challenge with the demands placed on today's business leaders. However, the challenge is worth overcoming. Exercise not only provides the immediate benefit of mood enhancement through the release of endorphins, but is also has long-term benefits when done regularly. Exercising gives you more energy on a consistent basis and it increases your endurance. In addition, following a regular exercise program improves heart health, brain function, and helps keep muscles and bones strong and functional as you get older.

Cultivating Personal Relationships

Developing and maintaining positive relationships with family and friends provides a feeling of connectivity to the world. Genuine relationships at work can foster an environment of teamwork and camaraderie. These factors can have tremendous impact on a leaders overall attitude. The presence of a consistently positive attitude is one of the most overlooked factors in bringing productive energy to your work and those who work for you on a daily basis. Great attitudes help people overcome dips in energy, deal with negatives and stress more effectively, and are contagious for the people you work with and lead.

Entire books are written regarding the myriad positive impacts of good nutrition, sleep, exercise and relationships. You would be well served to incorporate these fundamentals into your life and see how they benefit your performance at the office. You will be amazed at how your individual productivity can increase, and how you can lead other members of your organization to follow suit. By improving yourself and improving others, you will also improve the bottom line.