In fast-paced working environment, multitasking is a common feature of daily life. However, things can get overwhelming at times and result in burnout. That’s why it’s important to recognise the signs that you're approaching your limit, so that you can quickly take steps to prevent a mental or physical collapse.

1. Your mind is buzzing even during bedtime

You've had a long day and are in need of some quality sleep. But as you lie in bed, your mind wanders off and starts going over the outstanding tasks that you have on hand. To make matters worse, the more you worry about not getting enough sleep, the more difficult it is for you to fall asleep. Before you know it, the alarm rings and it’s time to pry yourself out of bed.

To break this vicious cycle, get away from your computer or smartphone and engage in a relaxing activity at least 30 minutes before bedtime. It can be as simple as sipping a soothing cup of chamomile tea, reading a book or taking a warm bath. Creating a to-do list can also help to put your mind at ease, so you can rest well knowing that you’re prepared for the next day.

2. Your memory is failing

You can't remember where you placed your keys or when you last spoke to someone, let alone what the conversation was about. If these little memory loss incidents are happening more frequently than normal, it could be a sign of a fatigued brain. When your brain is overworked, your ability to remember recent events can be affected.

A quick and easy way to enhance your mental performance is to take BRAND’S Essence of Chicken (Original), BRAND’S Fine Taste Essence of Chicken, or BRAND’S Essence of Chicken with Ginkgo + Bacopa. Studies have shown that Essence of Chicken can help to improve mental alertness and reduce tiredness, so you’re able to stay sharp throughout the day.

3. You’ve become immune to caffeine

Many people rely on a cup or two of coffee to get through the day. But if you find yourself knocking back a fifth cup without experiencing the boost that you need, it may be time to stop. An exhausted body can sometimes be unable to respond to caffeine.

The good news is, a cuppa isn’t your only salvation. To maintain your energy level at work after the lunch, you may consider drinking BRAND’S Ca’ya with Habbatus Sauda and Ginseng, an all natural energy drink without caffeine and added sugar for a sustainable energy up to 8 hours. It’ll also allows you to stay focus and feel less tired even as you drive back from the office.

4. You no longer feel refreshed after exercising

A session at the gym or a short outdoor run would normally make you feel energised. But lately, exercise only seems to wear you out even more. This is because your tired body isn’t able to cope with the additional burden.

As an alternative, try a less strenuous form of physical activity such as yoga or pilates. This will allow you to still keep fit without straining your body.

5. You’re easily irritated

Everybody has a bad day sometimes. However, when you are overworked and have insufficient sleep, you may find yourself losing your temper more easily than usual.

Even a nearby colleague tearing open a bag of chips can greatly annoy you. To stay in control of your emotions, ensure that you get plenty of rest as well as downtime. Sleep well and go on a short getaway every now and then to unwind and reset yourself. Alternatively, you can also consume BRAND’S Essence of Chicken to help reduces stress and improves your mood.

You’re a few hours away from the end of the work day when sleepiness kicks in. You nod away at your desk, struggling to stay awake. You then stagger into the pantry, desperate for a quick caffeine fix to snap back into life.

Working professionals would find the above scenario all too familiar. Finding hope in a cuppa to power you through the day has become a daily ritual that many can’t do without. But is coffee really the easy way out?

It doesn’t have to be. Because there are caffeine-free foods out there which you can add to your daily diet. Not only do they help to keep your energy levels up throughout the day, they also provide both your body and mind with essential nutrition.

1. Go nuts

Grab some cashew nuts, almonds or hazelnuts the next time you’re at the supermarket. High in magnesium and protein, these nuts work by helping to convert sugar into energy. Eat them as they are as a cholesterol-free snack or sprinkle some over your salad for extra crunch.

2. Apply lemon-aid

Cut a few slices of lemon, add them to a glass of water and what you’ll get is a quick, energising drink. Electrolytes from the lemon slices are vital for the production of energy in cells. With its light and refreshing taste, this drink is also an excellent thirst-quencher.

3. Miracle drink that's caffeine free

By combining 2 powerful ingredients from the nature, i.e. Habbatus Sauda (aka Black Seed) and American Ginseng, BRAND’S Ca’ya with Habbatus Sauda and Ginseng health drink not only serves as a sustainable source of energy to last you up to 8 hours a day, more importantly, it doesn’t contain any Caffeine nor added sugar to avoid compromising your health while meeting your energy needs. Not only that, BRAND’S Ca’ya also helps boost up the immune system and fighting cold &flu.

4. Rice to the occasion

Brown rice to be exact. This type of whole grain rice is rich in the mineral manganese, which helps to create energy from protein and carbohydrates. Switch out refined white rice for the more wholesome brown rice, as the latter retains much of its original nutritional value.

5. Eat your greens

Your mom wasn’t wrong. Greens are good for you. But do you know that leafy greens contain high levels of iron? Eating vegetables such as spinach, kale and mustard greens can help to maintain mental alertness as well as improve red blood cell circulation.

6. Just add honey

More than just a natural sweetener, honey is free of cholesterol and fat and filled with carbohydrates. It provides the body with a quick energy boost through glucose and maintains energy levels via the more slowly absorbed fructose.

7. Spilling the beans

From kidney beans, lentils and chickpeas, to green and red beans, these little pods are packed with fibre that helps to stabilise blood sugar levels and keep you feeling energised. Beans are also low in fat and cholesterol. Best of all, they can be prepared in a wide variety of ways to suit your fancy.

So the next time you’re thinking of turning to a cup of coffee, remember that you’re never short of options when it comes to energy-boosting foods.

Berries may be small in size, but they pack big benefits. With high antioxidants levels and low sugar and calories, berries are some of the most beneficial superfoods for health. Best of all, they can range from humble blueberries, blackcurrants, exotic goji to acai. Still not convinced? Here are some ways that berries can boost your body and health!

Fight free radicals

When it comes to ageing, free radicals are the enemies we want to destroy. They attack healthy molecules and can cause damage to the cells and organs. Antioxidants found in dark coloured berries can help to fight free radicals and guard against age-related health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Manage your weight

Why not try losing weight naturally with berries? As an excellent source of fibre, berries can help to keep you feeling full for longer. Just one cup of fresh blueberries a day makes up your daily five servings of fruits and vegetables. That’s a relatively high volume of naturally sweet treats with low calories, making them a great alternative to chocolate.

Delay cognitive decline

The benefits of berries also extend to brain health. A study found that eating more berries a day can slow down cognitive decline such as memory loss in the elderly by as much as two and a half years. They also lower the risk of age-related health conditions such as Alzherimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Support your eye health

Eating berries is also one of the most natural ways to support the maintainance and protection of your eyes. Anthocyanins found in berries can help to protect the retina from damage caused by ageing and overexposure to UV rays and blue light, which can be beneficial for people with cataract. Vitamin C present in blueberries can also help to slow down macular degeneration and protect against vision loss.

While a wide variety of berries are available at supermarkets, you can also get your daily cup of berries in the form of a supplement. BRAND’S® InnerShine® Berry Essence packs seven different types of premium berries specially selected from Europe and America. It contains Vitamins A, C, E and other antioxidants found in berries, which help to boost eye health.

Great tasting, highly nutritious and bursting with health benefits, add berries to your daily diet to improve your overall health in an enjoyable way!