A balancing act
As each year seems busier than the last, now is the time to make a conscious decision around how we want 2024 to look.
It is a great time to ask ourselves as professionals and leaders, how we can maintain that balance between workplace responsibilities, our personal well-being, and ongoing professional development.
Our ability to balance these three areas comes from the habits we develop and the routines we create.
To help get you started, we have put together some tips to help you achieve this balance.
Effective Time Management
This might seem like a bit of a no-brainer. But ask yourself, are you really managing your time effectively? It is the cornerstone of balancing competition priorities.
Employing techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish urgent from important. Create daily schedules delineating time blocks for managerial duties, personal commitments, and dedicated professional development. Harnessing productivity tools and setting realistic goals helps to keeps the day from running away from us.
Prioritising Self-Care
Self-care is essential to your effectiveness. Take time to be physically active through sports and hobbies. Practice mindfulness to manage stress and foster a healthier mindset.
Recognising your own personal needs and investing time in self-renewal will improve your productivity and resilience in the long run. There is an old saying that you can’t give from an empty cup, prioritise filling up your cup (not just your glass after a long day).
Continuous Professional Development
Permitting yourself time for your own professional development is indispensable.
Work time into your daily routine to reading industry-related literature, completing a topic in the Knowledge Centre, or participate in workshops.
Embrace learning is as much a mindset as it is an activity that takes time. The benefit is it will keep you across sector trends; keep your skills relevant to meet the ever changing needs of our customer, and deliver on the overall goals of the business in which we work; and set you up to take any career opportunities that present themselves.
Create Supportive Environments
Workplace culture will impact your ability to achieve a true balance.
Lead from the front with your direct reports. Encourage and support your own team with their time management, self-care and continuous professional development balance.
Doing so puts you in a position to determine their success, and your own.