Each month in this section, Kay offers actionable career consulting tips.
Optimizing Time and Health
Value and take care of yourself – Do you ever think in these terms: ‘When I can finally achieve X, then things will be better and I can finally start living’? The trouble with this thinking is that it is a perpetual trap. No doubt the things you have achieved, purchased or experienced to date were once future dreams of the past. A more strategic approach to a better future is to invest in yourself NOW. One of the biggest future investments you can make today is to increase the amount of time you exercise. Over time, your physical activity will not only make you stronger and feel better, it will also increase your health and help you be stronger for others. This enables you to be more fully available to co-workers, your spouse or partner, family and friends to help them be the best they can be too. Investing in your health also helps insure a healthier tomorrow, and future, which is also a gift to all those around you.
Identify the top energy times for best creative work – When are you most energized? Recall the last big project deadline you worked toward. Were you most productive in the morning, late afternoon, or in 45 minute bursts throughout the day? Maybe it’s difficult to tell during the work day if you have a hectic work schedule. If so, take note on the weekends when you feel most alive, productive and/or creative. Once identified, schedule tasks and priorities on your calendar during your peak alert and productive times.
If you add exercise to your lifestyle (as suggested in the lead article) it will create newfound energy in your life. Initially, you may feel sore and slightly fatigued as you begin a new routine, but that will quickly subside. After your body adjusts, you will feel increased energy throughout your day, which will translate to better creativity and productivity throughout your work schedule.
Regular exercise and getting fit creates an energy in your life that automatically flows into other places.
Take some calculated risks – There are 5 main risks in life and business: physical, financial, social, emotional and intellectual. Reaching beyond your comfort zone in any of these areas takes courage. Where do you find it? The good news is that starting and sticking with a fitness routines yields confidence that can translate into courage in other areas of your life. And, the more you challenge yourself, the more empowered you will feel. Once you reach that new level of confidence, capitalize on it and take some professional risks.
One useful exercise is to reach out to someone who (previously) intimated you, but who is also a person of influence, manager or potential client. Once you’ve proven to yourself that you are capable of so much than you thought physically, you can channel that confidence and connect with that person who needs to know who you are, and your capabilities. Don’t be afraid to request that meeting and presenting your professional experience and goals. End with sharing your vision of how you can make a difference and meaningful contribution to their team, project, or business. Regardless of how the meeting ends, you will have overcome a major hurdle that will enable you to conquer other areas of risk.
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