Four Pillars of Health, How to Perform at Your Best

Four Pillars of Health: How to Perform

Franchising is not for the faint of heart, but you already know that. The question is, are you surviving or thriving throughout your workday? Numerous studies show that working long hours, enduring long periods of stress, and not prioritizing nutrition and rest can lead to poor health. Your work could be negatively contributing to your weight, your health, your anxiety, and so much more.

at Your Best

If you spend at least eight hours working each day, how are you spending the other 16 hours of your daily life? Are you exercising? Getting plenty of sleep? Drinking lots of water? Eating nutritious foods? Unless your career is focused on fitness and wellness or you have personal fitness goals you are working towards, you may be missing an opportunity to level up your performance in your workday. by Kristen Horler, MS

When you’re working on a deadline, what is the first thing that you cut out so you can hit your goal? We’ve all missed a workout to get our day started a little earlier. Ordering in fast food because you didn’t have time to make lunch can happen. What may seem like a good idea at the time could actually be contributing to increased fatigue, brain fog, poor digestion, poor sleep and overall decreased performance.

“The pillars of health directly contribute to your performance at work and in other areas of your life. Take a look at the four pillars of health and how they may contribute to your performance at work: Regular exercise helps to reduce stress, improve sleep, and reduce the risk of major diseases, among many other benefits. Find something that you enjoy doing and people you enjoy doing it with. Whether it’s a walk with a friend or a session with a personal trainer, increasing your accountability reduces your chances of flaking out.

Eating more whole foods, fewer processed foods, and focusing on eating more fruits and vegetables can help to lower your risk of heart disease and increase your longevity. Improved digestion and energy is often experienced by individuals who eat a plant-based diet. Fitness

Nutrition

More sleep, not more coffee, can reduce your stress and increase your productivity. Are there benefits to drinking coffee? Timing is essential. Sleep

If you’re feeling sluggish in the middle of your workday, reach for a glass of water before a cup of coffee. Drinking water helps to improve brain function as well as digestion and elimination oftoxins. Hydration

The pillars of health directly contribute to your performance at work and in other areas of your life. If you’re looking to improve your performance, consider one simple change that you can make in your fitness, nutrition, sleep or hydration this month. It can be as simple as drinking a large glass of water when you wake up each morning.

Consider when your busy season is; my season is August and September, when we hold our annual conference, and March and April when we complete our annual franchise filings. I work to set myself up for success by scheduling an event or goal and having accountability partners that I can count on. What does this look like for me? I get my friends to sign up with me for a half marathon in October. This means that I need to spend the 12 weeks prior (also known as my conference busy season) committed to weekly training with my friends. We keep each other accountable to running at 5:30 am, staying well hydrated, getting plenty of rest, and even drinking less wine. How can you set yourself up for success?

Kristen Horler is a recovering overachiever who is learning to let more stuff go that is not aligned with her priorities and goals. As a former pastry chef turned fitness professional, Kristen created Baby Boot Camp shortly after her first child was born in August 2001. After extensive research, she was unable to find an effective workout that didn’t require hiring a personal trainer and a babysitter. Drawing from her experience as a fitness professional and new mom, Kristen developed Baby Boot Camp to balance the fitness needs of new moms. Kristen is passionate about food, fitness, and inspiring wellness. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and traveling. Visit www.babybootcamp.com to learn more.