A couple of years ago my husband and I were in Banff visiting the parks for daily sightseeing and hikes. While we were there, a race was taking place at the Kicking Horse Ski Resort and one of the athletes had taken up residency at the same Bed & Breakfast in which we were staying. Each night our resident B&B athlete made himself a huge bowl of raw veggies as a snack. The next morning he enjoyed the prepared meal of eggs in addition to another BIG bowl of veggies. During breakfast we listened as he explained his race history, the challenges of this particular race, and a bit about his diet –  lots of healthy raw veggies, protein and no sugar or alcohol while training.

His diet seemed similar to the diets of Olympic bound athletes who, while in training for competition, are diligent about the nutrients fueling their body.

So why aren’t you just as diligent about the nutrients fueling your body? You might challenge that saying your work is not physical.  However, your mind is just as impacted by the food and drink you consume as is your body.

If you are working on an important, high-profile project or want to build brilliance as a regular practice, you might want to evaluate your diet.

Where to start?

It is tough to keep track of the latest research on nutrition. So let’s start by eliminating some roadblocks to a healthy diet. Most experts in nutrition would agree that to improve brain and physical health it’s best to limit or totally eliminate two items from your diet – processed sugar and alcohol. Both have addictive qualities and both alter our molecular make-up that can contribute to brain fog along with a myriad of relational and health issues.

The positive advantages of giving your body and mind a break from alcohol, according to One Year No Beer, are improved sleep, increased productivity, reduced anxiety, loss of weight and just overall feeling better. And if positive incentives are not enough to encourage a second look at your drinking habits may be the fact, per WebMD, that it speeds up the aging process will get your attention.

Recently Brad Pitt announced the joy of his newfound sobriety. “I got sober because of this guy (Bradly Cooper) and every day has been happier since.” And based on the awards he is adding to his resume, it’s been great for his career as well.

As far as sugar, the website Verywellmind.com reports that “In the brain, excess sugar impairs both our cognitive skills and our self-control.” And health.com outlines the benefits of eliminating sugar to include: younger-looking skin, reduced belly fat, increased energy, and weight loss. The website greatest.com adds to the no-sugar benefit list: lower cholesterol, reduction in cancer risks, lower blood pressure, and brain sharpness along with possibly lowering your risk for dementia and depression.

Who doesn’t want any of those benefits?

Six ways to remove blockers to brilliance – alcohol, and sugar

  1. Learn more about sugar and alcohol – the risks of indulging, the benefits of abstinence, and finally, ideas to sustain healthy boundaries for your particular goals and life plans.
  2. Challenge yourself to be alcohol-free for a period of time – 5 to 90 days or throughout the duration of high-profile career projects. Stopping altogether is a must for some, for others, it might mean staying within the standard guidelines of no more than one drink a day for women and two a day for men.
  3. Eliminate processed sugar. Either reduce your consumption or completely remove processed sugar for a period of 10 to 30 days. Notice the physical and mental difference when “off sugar” and consider if it indeed is a roadblock to your brilliance. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day for women and 9 teaspoons for men. It’s estimated that Americans consume almost double. What do you want your daily allowance to be?
  4. Sugar-free and Alcohol-free Beverages. When hosting a work/social function offer sugar-free beverages and food along with alcohol-free drink options. Diet sodas, energy drinks, lemonade, and even iced teas are filled with sugar or addicting sugar substitutes and therefore do not qualify as healthy options when opting out of alcohol.
  5. No shaming! Whether you choose to drink alcohol or eat or drink sweets or NOT eat or drink them – it is your decision. The recommendation is to be mindful of your consumption and notice the impact on your mind and body.  And remember, there is no need to weigh in on the dietary decisions of your friends, family, and even your coworkers.
  6. Find Support. Removing these roadblocks might be harder than you think so garner some support. The British based organization One Year No Beer, referenced earlier, offers motivation and support to stop drinking.

What do you need to remove from your life that could be dulling your brilliance? Make a plan to remove the roadblocks and reward yourself without a drink or sweet for being a shining star personally and professionally!