THE ENERGY TYPE: MENTAL
THE THIEF YOU’RE LACKING VITAMIN B12
In the worst-case scenario, a vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anaemia – but simply not hitting your RNI (1.5mg a day, according to the Department of Health) will zap your mental energy, as well as your attention span and cognitive function. ‘Vitamin B12 is essential for blood formation,’ says Lambert. ‘And if you’re not getting enough, it can negatively impact your mental energy levels.’
THE FIX BOOST YOUR B12
The easiest way to up your B12 is by eating animal products – Lambert suggests shellfish or steak with eggs. Milk, cheese and yoghurt also contain plenty to pep you up. Some plant-based foods are fortified with the vitamin, too. Or grab a supp – Betteryou Boost Daily Vitamin B12 Oral Spray (£11.99, Holland & Barrett) delivers your daily quota and then some. Worried you could actually be deficient? See your GP.
THE THIEF
YOUR WORKSPACE ISN’T WORKING
While many subscribe to the theory that a tidy desk equals a tidy mind, the opposite is actually true. That’s according to Dr Craig Knight, a psychologist at the University of Exeter, who studies wellbeing and productivity in the workplace. ‘Every study I’ve carried out since 2003 has found that the worst space to work in is actually clean and clutter-free,’ he explains. But – and it’s a biggie – there’s a limit to how much clutter a person can put up with. ‘This varies between individuals, but forcing a messy person to work in an uncluttered environment is even more damaging to their mental energy levels than forcing a tidy person to work surrounded by mess,’ adds Dr Knight. So, those framed pictures of your mum’s pooch, cryptic Post-its and various halfused lip balms? They’re actually no biggie. But that two-day-old coffee mug and festering banana skin will be doing you no favours.
THE FIX EMBRACE MESS
Forget the Scandi minimalism and personalise your desk, whether that’s your kitchen table or your office. Dr Knight calls this ‘identity realised space’. ‘As long as it doesn’t encroach on anyone else, you should be able to put your stamp on your workspace. So embrace your creative (ie, messy) side and let the clutter pile up around you. Word to the wise though: if you’re clambering over (or crawling under) piles of stuff to get to your keyboard, it might be time for a quick Kondo.
THE THIEF YOU’RE TECHOBSESSED
Your device is never far from your eyeline and your thumb frequently finds its way to the Twitter app without your express permission. While we aren’t making judgements on the nature of your scrolling sessions, know that your brain doesn’t like that post-workout selfie nearly as much as your followers did. Recent research from the University of Illinois found that constant use of a smartphone had a negative impact on mental health, leading to fatigue, anxiety and depression, while another study by Hokkaido University in Japan found that the mere presence of a phone can lead to distraction – which won’t do anything for your mental energy.
THE FIX DIG DEEP AND DO A DIGITAL DETOX
The average adult checks their phone up to 58 times a day. If those screentime stats look tame in comparison to yours, friend, may we suggest a digital detox? You know, sticking your phone on airplane mode and doing other things for the sake of your psychological wellbeing? You don’t need to go completely cold turkey for this to be effective, either. Once you’ve broken the habit of constant checking, you can set yourself digital windows. Checking your apps and inboxes will become a choice, not an unconscious reflex.