EP Insights & Action

Fuelling for
optimum
performance
Nutritionist Kate Taylor provides insight into the
importance of fuelling for optimum performance
both at work and at home.
With productivity being a buzz word in almost every
corporate environment, is our lack of focus on fuel letting
us down when it comes to being at our best.
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It’s common theme now that many of us
work more than we should. Forget how
many hours we are contractually obliged
to do, that went out the window a long
time ago, yet in this age of working longer
and actually being less productive what
are we doing about fuelling for optimum
performance? Add to that the ever increasing
number of us suffering with stress and the
picture is bleak.
We have the ability to fuel ourselves in
two ways, one through physical energy,
calories, food and drink. The other through
mental ability, strength and determination.
Couple the two and you have the makings of
a winning team, sport is perhaps the perfect
example. However when we look at the
workplace, where many have the mental
capabilities, they are let down by failing to
fuel themselves in line with the day ahead.
How many of us think about what’s ahead
of us and how our food for that day, week or
month, needs to sit within it? How many of
us feel we have the time do so? And yet with
the constant demands for more output this
should be our number one priority.
Education must underpin the above, there
is a responsibility of every employer to ensure
their teams are being provided with the right
information and the right sustenance, but
there is an onus on the individual themselves
to take the action. After all, we can be provided
with all the information available, but it’s up to
us what we do with it.
How many of us think
about what’s ahead of
us and how our food for
that day, week or month,
needs to sit within it?
How many of us feel we
have the time do so?
All of what I’ve mentioned above was
brought to the forefront of my mind whilst
running a recent weekend escape with the
premise of getting people to make positive
changes and build healthier habits which
will support them in achieving their goals.
The consistent theme from all was around
stress and how to fit the simplest of things
into their already busy schedule. These are
things like, walking, thinking about food,
controlling boredom and funnily enough
putting themselves first. The standout for me
10 | Insights & Action | October 2017