Many of us are guilty of overbooking our calendars and scrolling through our phones while taking breaks from work.
Those habits hurt your mental stamina and drain your energy quicker than you may realize, says Jamie Wood, CEO of biotechnology startup Autonomic. Taking intentional breaks and practicing healthy habits, even for just a few minutes, can help you feel more energized and be more productive throughout the day, she says.
“A lot of times people don’t realize you don’t need a lot of time, you don’t need to go to a special class, you just need the intention [to take care of yourself] for a few minutes and that can make all the difference,” says Wood, whose company offers users “neuroscience-based coaching” to help people analyze their daily habits and work toward goals like reducing stress or improving focus.
As the head of a startup, Wood is familiar with the challenge of an overloaded schedule. If she gets particularly busy, and forgets to take a break or eat something nutritious, she feels more fatigued faster, thinks less clearly and finds herself becoming more reactive to small stressors, she says.
Here are her five favorite ways to conserve and recharge her mental energy throughout the day, she says:
