How I Achieved A Healthy Work-life Balance

“As CEO1Month, I have come to realize the importance of having a life outside work. With all the pressure a CEO faces daily, it’s imperative to unwind and rejuvenate yourself to avoid the risk of burning out.”

I noticed in my first two weeks, I was focusing only on WORK. I would come home, read up on work, stay glued to my laptop and answer emails late into the night. This resulted in my energy levels dropping, being short-tempered with family and missing out on fun and excitement in general. Imagine not being able to have dinner with your family because you gave an email more importance. Imagine not being able to share the excitement of being a CEO and changing lives because you were lost in your endeavor to outshine your potential. Now imagine the reverse, the horror of underperforming because you chose to give your undivided attention to a personal sphere. As an individual who often is found obsessing over a task, I constantly struggled with not thinking about work.Considering my background in Mental Health I should have been brilliant at this, but alas, I was struggling and hence, I decided to pull back and take a stance.

"Life is fully enjoyed when you enjoy both, work and your own life. It’s a tricky line to walk, but to have a healthy mind and body, its essential to make those decisions."

We often forget the importance of spending time away from technology. Our eyes and fingers are permanently glued to our phones. This is the first barrier to overcome: Leave that phone at home and go outside. Take a walk, sit on a bench in a park or stare at the waves on a beach. We all need our alone-time and that includes being away from the constant interaction a phone offers us. Take time out during the day, even if its 20 minutes, away from your phone, laptop, TV etc. Slowly, you will find yourself at ease, prioritising work and family in equal measure.

A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. In this fast-paced world, we often feel tired and every morning is a battle to get out of bed. The simple cure? Exercise! Whether it’s a brisk walk, a jog, cycling, yoga or even just exercises at home, your body needs to expend energy. The first month of you exercising will not be easy and you will need to push yourself out that door. But the effort is well worth it: you will sleep better, have more energy, your brain will be more active and you can tackle work pressure better.

Calm your mind with meditation. We all have a million thoughts running through our minds. This overworks our brain and produces constant stress. Find your oasis of calm within you. Sit in a quiet corner away from any distraction and breathe. Just breathe. Be aware of the air going in through your nose, into your lungs and feel your rib-cage expanding. This is a great way to stop your brain from over-thinking and prevents a burn out. Through regular meditation you will notice you can tackle stress bette, and provide solutions instead of panicking in an unknown situation.

And smile. Oh how we all forget the importance of being happy and smiling! A smile is contagious. Start your day with smiling at yourself in the mirror. Continue to smile at people through the day: your family, the doorman, receptionist, colleagues, delivery service, anyone and everyone. Bring a little cheer into people’s lives. They should walk away after meeting you with a smile on their faces and the positive vibes will pass on. All it took was you smiling.

With Madelin from the Finance Department at Adecco ME

Being meticulous about work is important but drawing that balance is even more so. Being energised, passionate and relentless can only be sustained when you’ve achieved this. Think about how you would like to be remembered and then do the best for both your career and you. Choose to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and you will notice your work improves simultaneously.

"A happy worker is the best worker. You can do this!"