Self-care during busy bids
By Roshan Sahukar, Tender Specialist (Sydney)
We’ve all been there. Work days packed full of meetings, intense problem-solving, and growing to-do lists with barely any time to breathe. But in the middle of an intense bidding process – we see you, adrenaline junkies – self-care will get you over the line. Here are three things you simply must do.
Move
While it’s well known that sitting at a desk for hours at a time isn’t great for your health, did you know it can also limit longevity? No joke: sitting for extended periods has been linked to obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels, all of which can contribute to a shorter life span. Regular active breaks – where you change your posture and increase your heart rate – are essential to increase alertness, manage stress and boost productivity. Get up and go for a fast walk, even for 10 minutes on busy days. It will give you the boost of energy you need to power through, and a little sunshine will help top up vitamin D levels to assist with cognitive performance. Bonus: if you absolutely can’t tear yourself away from your desk for even a few minutes, at least try to stand every so often and stretch.
Hydrate
It’s no secret that water is essential for life, but did you know that even mild dehydration (just a 1% water loss) can affect cognitive performance? A less-than-optimal water intake during a busy working day can impede cognition and alertness, leading to reduced attention span and short-term memory. Dehydration can also affect your mood, negatively impacting levels of calm, fatigue and happiness, all of which can affect your work performance. Bonus: keeping yourself hydrated means you’ll need regular loo breaks, which means moving more often, too.
Refuel
Not only is it essential to eat regular meals when work gets manic, but all that extra brain power also requires additional fuel. Keep your body and brain going through the afternoon by topping up your protein reserves between meals. Don’t bother with fussy options that take time to prepare, or sugary treats that give you a rush quickly followed by a crash. Choose high-protein snacks to maintain energy levels, and keep them at the ready so you can crunch at your desk while you crunch through the work. Grab-and-go options include hummus with vegetable sticks, pumpkin seeds, Greek yoghurt with berries and a sprinkle of nuts, crisp roasted chickpeas, or avocado on wholegrain toast. A quick protein hit will help maintain your energy levels, preventing brain fog and dips in cognitive function as the day progresses.
Commit to these essentials during busy work days. For other productivity and well-being tips, see The benefits of conducting wellness meetings during tendering and Kindness and empathy win every time: tendering essentials.
Tender Plus offers tender strategy, tender management and tender writing support nationwide via our talented teams in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Reach out to find out how we can help you win work.