Confessions of a Blog-Bound Caffeine Freak

Blog Productivity: The Confession

Right now my productivity levels are on the rise. I’m getting more done than ever before, and spending less time doing it. But it hasn’t always been this way.

Up until recently, I was a classic blog-bound caffeine freak. Few breaks and tapping away on the keyboard long into the night with only the scratching of possums on the roof for offline company. Not enough sleep, no exercise, far too much coffee, and a terrible diet (never been a ‘fast food’ guy but full English fry-up – yum!)

Then I started to piece together the ‘Input/Output Connection.’

Long ago I realized that what we ‘feed’ our brains has a huge impact on our lives, and choosing the right mental diet is vital to blogging success (and other areas too, but this post ain’t about that). However, I’ve taken much longer to ‘wake up’ to the impact of physical health on productivity.

Now I have, I’ve begun to make the change.

I cut down the Greasy, fried foods. Unhealthy snacks. Caffeine.

I’m eating simpler, healthier meals, more regularly, and complementing them with a simple daily exercise routine in the mornings, and ‘re-installing’ some regular daily meditation practice.

I’m not a ‘health-nut’ by any stretch of the imagination, and I never will be. But in a remarkably short amount of time, I have greater mental clarity, increased physical energy, and my productivity has been expanded to a whole new level.

Funny thing is, that I’m actually spending less time on my blog and business. But I’m achieving far, far more.

Healthy Blogger = Productive Blogger

Results are built upon productivity and performance.

Productivity and Performance are built upon healthy functioning.

Healthy functioning is built upon healthy food, lifestyle and input.

I’d love to have a precise formula of exactly what to eat and do to create this, but I’m not a nutritionist, and there are far too many schools of thought on what’s the healthiest food to eat.

What works for me may well not be what works for you.

Fuel for the Productivity Blogger

That said, here’s some guidelines you may find helpful:

• Go easy on junk food, caffeine, alcohol, and sucrose.
• Eat food which contains the energy of the sun – fresh, non-processed, organic if possible.
• Raw fruit and vegetables work well for me. A good balance or food groups. Home made juices and shakes are quick, easy and can be packed with vital nutrients.
• Wrap that up with some kind of daily exercise. Could be Yoga, Running, Walking, Swimming, Weights, Aerobics, or whatever works for you. Do something to move your body and engage your whole ‘body-mind’ system is crucial to maximizing your performance.
• Get enough sleep is the foundation of optimum performance (I’m still working on that one)
• Meditate daily (sitting quietly focusing on your breathing is fine) will inject an extra boost to mental clarity.

Blog for an hour or two less per day and take care better care of your physical health instead. I guarantee you will become a more productive blogger.

It’s working wonders for in my life.

What have you got to lose? Even if I’m wrong (I’m not) you’ll feel better, have more energy, and live a longer, healthier life.

Check out my other productivity posts to help you on your way:

Mobilizing Your ‘Inner Blogging Army’

Fractals, Focus, and the Myth of MultiTasking

How to Achieve more in Less Time

Id’ love you to share this post before you leave me a comment below:

Do you find that your physical health affects your productivity? What else is stopping you from performing at your peak?

Get healthy. Be more productive. Make your dreams reality.

Image: ‘Espresso’ by Jeremy Mates – Flickr Creative Commons 2.0

Blog Productivity: Confessions of a ‘Blog-Bound’ Caffeine Freak © 2011 Blogger’s Alchemy