>>>The link between nutrition and your business
Hi there
It’s no secret that good nutrition is a hallmark of the world’s most successful people across the sport, business and entertainment industries. However, the nature of solopreneur life seems to lend itself to a lifestyle that impacts on our physical health. Long hours, blurred boundaries, and days that are punctuated with coffee and a muffin to stave off hunger seem to be the norm. Many of the solopreneurs I work with feel simply too busy to factor good nutrition into their day.
Tell me - what did you have for breakfast yesterday? Did you skip breakfast in your rush to get through all the things you needed to do today, only to realise at 3pm that you hadn’t actually eaten anything all day? You’re not alone - many of my coaching clients find themselves reaching for a chocolate bar or a cafe muffin when they notice the 3pm foggy brain descending.
We’ve all heard that old analogy that a car needs fuel in order to function. Teacher friends tell me that there is a distinct correlation between the content of a child’s lunchbox with their ability to focus, be creative and learn. Athletes fuel their body for peak performance, but what about us humble solopreneurs? You could argue (and I do!) that equally we need to fuel ourselves appropriately to get the very best out of ourselves for the benefit of our business.
As a holistic business coach my focus is on working with you to create a sustainable, successful business. A critical factor in that is a commitment to good nutrition and habits that make it easy for you to fuel yourself well. I truly, wholeheartedly believe that the health of your business is reflected in your own personal health.
The implications of not creating sound nutritional habits are not pretty at all. Think everything from low energy, poor focus, inability to make a decision and an average mindset all the way through to burnout.
As the Queen of Foodiness, I make it my business (literally!) to walk my talk when it comes to taking care of myself through the food I eat. My background is in food. I grew up in Australia’s capital of incredible produce in Tasmania. After several years in banking, I studied a Diploma of Business (Hospitality) before opening a restaurant/gourmet store/catering business in Perth, Western Australia. I love little more than sourcing fresh, beautiful produce and transforming that into meals that echo my healthy lifestyle.
The best way to incorporate good nutrition into a busy lifestyle is to make it simple yet exciting. Indulging in my passion for great food is the easiest way to live the life I love as well as feel energised, ready for whatever challenges the day throws my way. I love rotating through my favourite meals while keeping room in my schedule to try new recipes that I come across. I find that variety works for my gut and my energy levels, but I keep meals simple so they are do-able. For example, I loving having porridge regularly (at least weekly) for breakfast. It is an easy breakfast that’s a nutritional powerhouse. I might dress it up with some gorgeous granola topping or fresh fruit, but it’s a staple that keeps me energised well into the midmorning and midday.
Another of my business-boosting habits that sets me up for success as a solopreneur is my snack stash. I love raw treats. While my adult rocky road is famous amongst my friends and family, I think bliss balls are one of the most underrated ways to keep yourself performing. They’re easy to make in bulk, and are such a great option for in between meals.
I make it a priority to stop for lunch each day, away from my desk. My focus for lunches is making big serves of raw salads with protein such as halloumi, some chicken on the BBQ or a tin of tuna with a beautiful dressing. My other go-to lunches are a quick poke bowl or a healthy soup. Eating away from my desk, with a meal that I’ve prepared, actually forces me to give my brain a break. Mindfulness, am I right?
Habits, planning and personal preferences are the critical factors to keeping myself eating food that serves me. I always make enough raw salads for two serves with a dressing on the side, and while I’m not a big fan of leftovers, I love getting my creative hat on and repurposing dishes I’ve made. My chicken bolognaise is served with a spelt pasta first up, and then I freeze leftovers, keeping another portion to add to a base of mashed cauliflower served with a green salad.
Sometimes, when I start working with an overwhelmed, under-nourished solopreneur, they have some skepticism about how changing their eating habits will have an impact on their bottom line. I understand intimately that sense of the business needing to take priority over everything else.
When I was operating my food emporium in Perth, 16 - 18 hour days were not unusual for me, and the thought of taking half an hour to sit and do nothing but eat? Ludicrous! However, when I did, the results were dramatic. My productivity increased. My outputs accelerated, and I had the energy to keep me going through the whole day. Time after time, as my clients implement even the seemingly small step of reaching for water rather than coffee, they experience that same injection of vitality and vibrance.
I’m a firm advocate for the link between nutrition and a successful business. I see it in myself, I see it in my clients and the broader research backs me up. Making a conscious decision to have good nutritional habits as lynchpins in your day will see your business reap the rewards. If you’re looking for a business coach that works holistically with you to reenergise your business and live a life you love, please reach out. I’d love to work with you.
To your success…
