It makes sense that we perform at our best when we take care of ourselves and practice good habits. If we get a good nights’ rest, then we will be refreshed and more productive. Taking time to recharge our batteries will help with creativity and focus. Having work life balance is an important part of our own personal and professional wellness strategy. So, if we know all these things, why aren’t we doing them?

Health & Wellness

There’s so much discussion and attention to health and wellness but where is it? Is it really happening? Although there’s an understanding of the benefits, so many career professionals don’t take time for their own wellness by practicing good habits. I’ll exercise tomorrow, I won’t work so late after this project finishes, we’ll plan a vacation next year. Why tomorrow, why next year, that should be the question to ask. There will always be a new project and there will always be a reason to postpone some me time if we allow it.

We are notorious for spending long hours at work, being glued to our phones 24/7 and postponing activities that will help us with our own personal wellness. It has become part of our cultural norms.

Establishing Boundaries

With technology and the ability to work wherever you are something seems to have gotten lost. We have difficulty pulling away from our phones, not responding to an email after hours and in general just taking time to disconnect. Although technology has made our lives easier in so many ways, it also has made it difficult to establish boundaries.

Practicing Good Habits

Practicing good habits is the key. Establishing goals around when you will stop working each day and scheduling breaks is something you may struggle with initially until it becomes a habit. Trying to make sure you get 8 hours a night will become easier when you determine a cut off time for work. Figure out what activities help you decompress, perhaps you’ll find something you truly enjoy. More people are trying to incorporate daily meditation, yoga or another activity that reduces stress and increases focus. There are studies that show after working a certain number of hours, your productivity will start to decline. That’s why there are rules around how many hours a pilot can fly, and professional drivers are allowed to drive. It’s based on data with the objective of ensuring safety, caring for their workers and optimizing performance levels.

Incorporating good habits into your daily activities will help you to be more focused, more productive, more creative and to achieve a greater level of career success. Furthermore, you will be happier at work and at home when you have a chance to recharge your batteries and practice good habits. Although intuitively, we all know it’s in our best interest from a personal and professional standpoint, we have difficulty making the commitment each and every day. It takes determination and it’s worth it. There’s so much to gain from taking time for yourself. We all want to be happy. Why not do more of what makes us happier, healthier and more productive? Yes, why not?