Nine Reasons Why You Need to Make Health and Well-being Management a Priority
Did you know that women at the top of their game prioritise their health and well-being? I think we all imagine that they don’t have time. But for many it’s quite the opposite.
I learned this a couple of years ago when delivering a workshop on the 7 Vital Components to Subtly Powerful Self-Promotion to 10 successful Sydney based female Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers for Gartner. (Reach out if you want me to come and deliver this to your team.)
I asked these female MDs and CEOs to rate themselves between 1 and 10 as to their commitment to 30 mins per day stress & well-being management (with 1 being low and 10 being high).
What was fascinating was that for all of these women, health and well-being management wasn’t optional, it was essential.
They were “all in” in their commitment to health and well-being management PLUS four out of 10 said it was one of the main reasons that they were so successful in their role as leader.
And it should be for you.
“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
– Eleanor Brown
NINE REASONS WHY
Here are nine reasons why you need to make health and well-being management a priority.
- You’ll sleep better.
- It will make it easier to get up in the morning and hit the ground running.
- You’ll have more energy throughout the day. Energy begets energy.
- You’ll manage stress better. Movement is medicine.
- You’ll be more creative.
- You’ll have more ambition and drive – did you know that one of the negatives of lack of sleep for women is that we lose our ambition more than men? Go figure.
- You’ll have more stamina and resilience for when times get tough.
- You’ll look better – glowing skin, clear complexion, bright eyes and better weight management. What’s not to like!
- It will help you become the leader you want to see.
LET ME LET YOU IN ON A SECRET
The secret to prioritising health and well-being is to find something you actually enjoy.
Because research also tells us that when we enjoy our health and well-being management activity, not only are we more likely to do it but we actually benefit more. Yes, you read that right. We benefit more. For example, in order to manage stress, the activity that you do that you enjoy the most will help you manage stress better. Enjoyment is a key factor when selecting your activity not just for stickability, but for results as well.
- If you don’t like yoga, but prefer a walk along the beach – walk along the beach.
- If you prefer gardening over cycling – do the gardening (and surprisingly, gardening was a winner all round).
- If you ❤️ Zumba classes but someone told you should be meditating for 30 mins per day but you hate meditating, go do Zumba.
Remember, while doing something is better than nothing, there is real benefit in doing the activity you love, or at the very least, learn to love the activity that you can do.
BECOME THE LEADER YOU WANT TO SEE
Leadership is an extreme sport and in order to lead and succeed you’ll need stamina and drive. You’ll need it to speed up and take advantage of the good times and you’ll need it even more when times are tough. Plus you’ll be letting your team down if you are running on the smell of an oily rag all the time, as they are the ones who bear the brunt when you’re not bringing your ‘A’ game to work every day.
When you prioritise health and well-being management, you’ll have energy to burn and can get back to doing the things that move the dial. Your brain, your body – and your staff – will thank you.
Fortune favours the well prepared particularly on LinkedIn
View Post