The Diagnosis: Running on Empty
You likely get a lot from your work, but if your world is complex, exacting and demanding, you'll know the toll it takes too. Long hours, tight deadlines, an 'always on' culture: it can all adds up, chipping away at your energy, performance and resilience.
If this resonates at all, you're not alone. The Performance Prescription’s author – Dr John Briffa – has worked with organisations internationally since the 1990s to support wellbeing, performance and resilience, and has personally advised more than 8,000 professionals and executives. He has seen the full spectrum of work-induced strain up close.
Despite decades of 'work smarter, not harder', productivity is stalling, and burnout is rising. The technology that promised to ease the load for us – for example, collaboration platforms, communication tools and AI – has ended up adding to it. In the decades-long drive to optimise work, what got lost in the mix is the worker.
The Remedy: The Performance Prescription - Just What the Doctor Ordered!
Success at work isn't only about what gets done – it's about sustaining the person doing it. That's the piece we've forgotten. The Performance Prescription redresses the balance, and offers a path to 'healthy high performance'. The book is a manual for how to work, and live, successfully and sustainably.
The book is built around the Four Fundamentals:
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EMOTIONAL REGULATION – how to master your emotions, stay sharp under stress, and perform under pressure
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ENERGY – practical guidance on nutrition, exercise, sleep and breathing for all-day endurance and effectiveness
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ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN – science-backed ways to engineer your workspace for greater wellbeing, focus, and output
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EXECUTION – proven strategies for decluttering the mind, working efficiently, and boosting productivity
Each chapter closes with a summary and a set of Action Points. You don’t need to do it all: pick and act on the strategies that resonate with you.
The Performance Prescription is the operating manual for those who want success with sustainability. Backed by the latest research, inspired by a wealth of experience, and packed with actionable advice, it is the ultimate guide to being healthier, happier and more productive – at work and in life.
The Performance Prescription: The Science of Sustainable Success is published by Pinnacle Press (out 16th August 2026), priced at £15.99 (Paperback) and £8.99 (eBook), available from Amazon and other major book retailers
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
10. Workstation Set-Up and Remote Working
11. Light
12. Air
13. Sound
INTRODUCTION
THE FINAL CHAPTER
17. Making Change Work for You
EXECUTION
14. Prioritisation and Scheduling
15. Deep Work and Flow
16. Maintaining Focus and Managing Distractions
Table of
Contents
EMOTIONAL REGULATION
1. The Two Sides of Stress
2. Strategies for Mental Resilience and Resourcefulness
3. Breathing and Meditation for Mental Wellbeing
ENERGY
4. Breathing for Physical Wellbeing and Fitness
5. What to Eat
6. When to Eat
7. Hydration and Fluids
8. Sleep
9. Physical Activity
