man wearing glasses who expressive faceIs there really anything more detrimental or embarrassing than being mentally absent in a meeting? As I’m sure you’ll agree, the answer is no. Not only must an employee stay conscious in meetings, but be attentive and participatory as well. When a team gets together to discuss anything, it’s a great opportunity to shine and get your thoughts on the main stage. Here are 10 tips to keep your eyelids raised and brain sharp as can be.

1 - Eat a healthy meal and hydrate the night before. Fish, pasta, veggies and generous amounts of water set up the human body to be more alert than heavy meals with saturated fats do.

2 - Make notes of points you wish to discuss, the night before. This can be as simple as 2 bullet points on a pad of paper that will remind you to bring up certain conversation starters. When tiredness sets in, seek to spark conversation with your topics.

3 - Eat light, but healthy before entering. Eggs, fruit, nuts, milk and juice are all great things to consume that will not weigh you down like fats will. Foods like this will provide great energy in the meeting and throughout the day.

4 - Review notes made the night before; add anything additional you feel to be important. This helps to be better prepared. Being better prepared increases confidence which in turn, boosts energy.

5 - Casually greet other participants in the meeting before starting. Socially engaging with others will stimulate your mind and senses.

6 - Write down new notes as discussions/presentations proceed. Compliment listening by jotting down any and all points you feel are at all important.

7 - Treat every meeting as if it is the most important. Of course some meetings are realistically less crucial than other, but to stay engaged and involved requires participating on a valuable level each time.

8 - Ask questions when appropriate. Once again, this facilitates engagement with yourself and co-workers via feedback.

9 - Make use of breaks by walking around and drinking a cup of water.

10 - Do not focus on the time; focus on discussion. Clock-watching will kill attention span.

Not only will these tips keep you feeling great, but they facilitate action and professional advancement in the workplace!

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