Leadership is physical. Tips to stay ahead in the office.

1. Stand up
Sitting down all day will restrict blood flow causing lower energy levels. Force yourself to stand up more during the day. Walk or stand while you are on the phone. Shift weight from foot to foot from time to time, bend through the knees, tiptoe while you smile at your colleagues.

2. Rub your ear
An old Chinese technique, massage the ear, the ear represents our entire body. Rub the complete ear for 1 minute untill it gets warm. That is a sign that the blood is circulating through your complete body.

3. Think Popeye - Take in iron
Iron transports oxygen in the bloodstream. About one fifth of the Western European managers have an iron deficit. Eat more red meat, vegetables, cereals, spinach and beans for an iron boost.

4. Water
Drink at least 1,5 litres of water a day. Managers who don't drink enough tend to loose concentration, have a lowered immunity system, and get more irritated. Airco, stress and central heating tend to cause water loss in the human body.

5. Think Bull
Psychologists advise to wear more red on the job. It tends to stimulate you. Wearing basic colours also will add to your image in a positive way. It will show you feel strong, confident and positive.

6. Blink Blink Blink
Energy levels go down when your eyes are tired. Your eyes get tired from staring at a computer screen. Reading a screen will cause your eyes to blink less, making them dry and tired. So blink, blink!

7. Work on your posture
15 minutes reading or typing in the wrong position will lower your energy levels significantly. It compresses the internal organs leading to weak or uneasy digestion. Take a break every 20 minutes. Pull your shoulders back, pull your stomach in, stick your chin in the air.

8. Attend breathing class
Most managers actually do not breath the correct way. Good breathing doesn't come from inhaling air via chest movement. It comes from moving the diaphragm under the chestcavity. It is your belly that moves instead of your chest.Good exercise to learn good breathing: inhale through the nose (mouth closed) for four slow counts, hold your breath for 1 count, exhale through the nose for six counts. Do this a couple of minutes every hour.