How to be at your Most Optimal Self: A Guide for High Performers

When we think of high performance, we often think about ambition, achievement, and pushing through. But what if reaching your potential wasn’t just about what you achieve… but how you live? 

Inspired by the Blue Zones research (highlighted in my recent read Learning to Love Midlife by Chip Conley), I will share some principles I use for coaching towards your most “Optimal You” and how the Blue Zones research works within this framework.  

If you are feeling overwhelmed and want to feel more fulfilled. These guiding principles will support you.  

The 4 principles of becoming your "Optimal You" 

This framework combines the science of human performance with real-world application. These four principles are what high-performing individuals must master to not only succeed but thrive. 

Manage your foundations: your physical wellbeing forms the bedrock of everything else. When you're not sleeping well, moving regularly, or fuelling your body properly, performance suffers. 

Clean up your mental mess: mental clutter, self-doubt, and inner conflict drain your energy. Clearing these blocks is essential to think clearly, act decisively, and lead effectively. 

Find harmony with flow: flow isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a measurable, optimal state where you perform at your best with ease and focus. It's where high performance meets fulfilment. 

Master the drivers of motivation: purpose, autonomy, growth, and connection are what sustain performance over time. When you understand what drives you, you can tap into your best self again and again. 

Let’s dive into each one in more detail and how you can make some shifts to help you perform at your best.  

1. Manage your foundations for 'Optimal You' 

When the basics are out of sync, everything else feels harder. Your mental clarity, creativity, and resilience all rely on you having a strong base. These habits are simple, but powerful. 

Practices:  

Move naturally: This doesn’t have to mean workouts. It's about consistent, intuitive movement: walking, gardening, stretching. Also ensuring you get time outside is important.  

Fuel your body: If you are eating poorly, skipping meals or overeating it is hard for your body to want to perform at its best.  

Drink in moderation: Joy, connection, and balance matter just as much as productivity. 

Rest: While yes, this means a good amount of sleep, it also means rest outside of this sleep routine.  

What to ask yourself: 

Am I fuelling myself to perform, or just pushing through? 

Are my habits helping me, or depleting me? 

Where am I giving too much when “enough” would be better? 

2. Clean up your mental mess 

Stress, self-doubt, and negative self-talk are some of the biggest performance drains. And the most invisible. 

What to ask yourself: 

Am I managing my stress, or just trying to survive it? 

Is my inner critic running the show? 

Am I navigating life’s external conflicts with clarity - or avoiding them altogether? 

3. Find harmony with flow 

When you’re in a state of flow, you’re not just productive, you’re deeply fulfilled. Flow comes when you’re focused, challenged, and doing something meaningful. 

What high performers need to explore: 

Are my goals clear and motivating? 

Am I getting timely feedback to improve and grow? 

Am I protecting focus, or multitasking my potential away? 

The most effective leaders and entrepreneurs understand this: flow isn’t random. It’s designed. And it starts with clarity. 

4. Master the drivers of motivation 

Your “why” matters more than your “what.” Purpose, autonomy, and growth aren’t buzzwords, they’re fuel for sustained energy and performance. 

Practices: 

Purpose: Having a strong “why” can add up to seven years to your life. 

Loved ones first: Connection is what we all come back to. 

Find a community: Your environment either lifts you or limits you. 

What to ask yourself: 

Am I clear on what drives me? 

Do I feel supported by the people around me? 

Am I growing? 

Final thoughts 

You can hit every external milestone and still feel like something is missing. That’s why high performance isn’t just about what you achieve, it’s about how aligned, supported, and fulfilled you feel while doing it. 

That’s what the “Optimal You” Quiz was built for. It’s grounded in science and performance psychology - and helps you reflect deeply on where you are and where you’re heading. 

Want to find your “Optimal You”? 
Take the quiz and discover what’s helping you flourish and what might be quietly holding you back. 

TAKE THE QUIZ HERE