My answer is simple, I have three non-negotiables to keep a high performance at work and in my private life and they have nothing to do with work itself. All three are about something very foundational - my body and ensuring it functions at its peak.
I've spent years nurturing three key habits to ensure I can perform at high and quick speeds: exercise, nourishing food and sleep. These three have been and still are the best decisions I make every day.
Those who know me, know that I am a morning person. It's been 10 years since I've adopted a habit of waking up early and exercising before the day begins. I train 5 days a week, 30 minutes a day, at home, mainly strength and some cardio after I turned 30 when you start losing muscle mass (it was the other way around before).
My morning routine before the whole house wakes up is simple: water, short meditation, journaling while having my first coffee, and exercise.
I exercised through pregnancy, while raising a small baby, when I travel, when I go on holidays etc. I adjust depending on my circumstances but if I don't get my training done for the day, I'm not in a good mood.
The biggest benefit of exercising has not only been having a strong, healthy body but also having a strong mind ready to take on anything.
I've long learned to create a balanced plate with proteins, healthy carbs and veggies.
I happen to love cooking so I do this for myself and for my family. And with a busy job, I've made it easy for myself to manage it all - I have 3 air fryers and 1 multi-cooker that cook for me while I do other things.
But I don't limit myself either. I follow the 80/20 rule - 80% healthy, 20% fun. So if I want some chocolate or cake, I will have it instead of suppressing the desire and then overeating on it later.
I wake up at 5.30 am so I go to bed at 10 pm. I give my body the rest it needs.
If you have a Fitbit or any other tracking device, it tracks your sleep against the key sleeping stages - deep, REM, light, and awake. Your body needs deep sleep to fully rest so I've learned that the later I go to bed, the less I truly rest.
If I am to be at my peak, then I go to bed early, especially so that I can get up early and do my exercise to start my day right.
Sleep, like anything else, is a habit that you have to cultivate.
That's it! What are your non-negotiables for peak performance?