Dr. Briffa - A Great Day at the Office - 10 Simple Strategies for Maximizing Your Energy and Getting the Best Out of Yourself and Your Day

The information and advice contained in this book should not be used for the purposes of diagnosis or as a substitute for medical advice. Neither the publisher nor Dr John Briffa assumes any responsibility or liability for any consequence resulting directly or indirectly from any action or inaction taken based on the information contained in this book.

First published in Great Britain by Fourth Estate 2014

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers,

1 London Bridge Street,

London SE1 9GF

www.4thestate.co.uk

FIRST EDITION

Text © John Briffa 2014

John Briffa asserts his moral right to

be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is

available from the British Library

Author photograph © Charlotte Knee

Illustrations by HL Studios

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Source ISBN: 9780007547913

Ebook Edition © January 2014 ISBN: 9780007547920

Version 2014-12-18

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Chapter Summaries

1 Energy to Burn

2 Fluid Thinking

3 Movable Feast

4 Dream Ticket

5 Light Relief

6 Fit for Business

7 Sound Effects

8 Breath of Life

9 Mind Control

10 Habit Forming

Scientific References

Acknowledgements

Index

About the Author

By the Same Author

About the Publisher

Do you sometimes feel exhausted or overwhelmed by work? Can you find yourself ‘putting in the hours’, only to find you have little to show for it at the end of the day? At times, do you get the feeling that the bulk of your energies and efforts are going into your career, and that there’s not much left over for your loved ones and interests outside work?

If any of these scenarios resonate with you, then you are not alone: they are just the sort of cries I’ve heard time and again from the individuals I have worked with in the corporate arena over almost two decades. But it needn’t be this way: workplace issues such as reduced vitality, faltering focus and sub-par productivity are usually rooted in issues that are not only identifiable , but easily solved with the relevant knowledge, understanding and practical know-how.

Drawing on cutting-edge but little-known research, as well as the real-world experience of thousands of business professionals, A Great Day at the Office equips you with the knowledge required to run your body and brain at maximum capacity. This book explores the fundamental factors that determine our vitality, mental functioning and mood, and how to put them together in a way that will take your energy, performance and sustainability to new heights.

This book offers key insights in wide-ranging factors including diet, physical activity, sound and light exposure, breathing, psychology and sleep. Put even a fraction of the strategies offered here into practice, and you stand to be rewarded with a tangible increase in your energy and vitality, and an ability to get more done more easily.

While most of us acknowledge that our professional lives can be rewarding on many levels, we may also recognize that they usually come with considerable challenges, too. Long working hours and the stresses and strains of a demanding and competitive environment can drain our physical and mental resources. This, in turn, can take a toll on our wellbeing and performance. My experience with organizations around the world tells me that eroded energy, faltering performance and problems with sustainability are common and pervasive issues throughout all business sectors.

The vast majority of the individuals that I have worked with in seminars and workshops clearly have the skillset and knowledge necessary to do their job very well. Some are demons at satisfying the most demanding of clients and have supreme technical knowledge. They may be masters in the principles of effective leadership or know ninja tactics for handling the daily onslaught of email. However, whatever someone’s knowledge, skills and experience, they know that none of this counts for much when they find themselves short of energy and struggling for inspiration.

The fact is, without abundant and sustained energy , theory tends not to translate at all well into practice, and our talents can easily end up being squandered. Plus, when energy runs low, more effort is used to get less done (and things usually get done less well, too).

Conversely, in an energized and vital state we are able to get more done more easily, and our work will generally be of superior quality. Combined with professional and business skills, having abundant mental and physical energy is the key to success.

The processes in the body that drive energy production are highly dynamic and dependent on several factors. In a way, the human body is no different to a car: for us to get from A to B a few basics need to be in place, such as fuel in the tank (and the right type of fuel at that), water in the cooling system, oil in the engine, and for the tyres to be properly pumped up. If these fundamentals are not satisfied, then performance is impaired. This book is essentially a manual for your body, explaining its inner workings and what is required for you to perform at your peak.

A Great Day at the Office offers a wide range of information and advice grouped into seven key areas:

Diet and nutrition

Sleep

Light exposure

Activity and exercise

Music and sound

Breathing

Psychology

Each area will be explored from a scientific perspective, enabling you to gain valuable insights into the impact specific behaviours have on how you feel and function, as well as on your long-term health and sustainability. In each section, practical guidance is given on the simple and sustainable changes that make a real difference.

But many of us are only too aware that we can sometimes fail to do things we know are good for us, and perhaps persist with habits that hold us back. To this end, the final chapter provides practical tips on how to get healthy habits to stick, as well as unhealthy ones out of our system – with ease .

Not every factor this book covers will require action on your part, as my experience tells me that almost everyone is getting some (possibly many) things right. However, hardly anyone has no room for improvement, so there’s a good chance that within the pages of this book you will find quite a few nuggets that will make a tangible difference to your ability to achieve your goals, from tasks on your ‘to-do’ list, to major life ambitions.