It’s the end of the year which means a lot of us are feeling stressed out, depleted and desperately in need of some down-time. Life is busy and we often feel like hamsters on a wheel as we rush around trying to tick off a seemingly never-ending to-do list.
As the new year approaches, it’s a perfect time to plan for a more calm, balanced and fulfilling 2020. The term ‘wellness’ gets bandied around a lot these days. And often it focusses on meditation, yoga and drinking a daily concoction of kiwi fruit and kale. While we’re all for sipping on a green smoothie while in the Lotus position, wellness is about a lot more than that. It’s about prioritising the most important person in your life and business – you.
If you want to avoid feeling frazzled in 2020, here are some ways you can put your health and wellbeing first (without resorting to the recent ‘bum sunning’ craze).
1. Build a community
Surround yourself with people who support your vision for a successful business and happy life. That could mean investing in friends who boost rather than hinder your self esteem, outsourcing admin to a virtual assistant, or joining a collective of like-minded business owners (like ours). You need people who will be there for you when the hamster wheel starts to run on turbo charge. People who remind you that you are not alone. People who calm your chaos with sound advice and reduce the overwhelm with practical support.
2. Make an appointment…with yourself
We’re used to making appointments with our clients and giving them our undivided attention but we often forget to make appointments with ourselves. And no, we’re not being figurative here, we actually want you to book in meetings with yourself, preferably every day. Blocking out this time gives you the opportunity to explore a hobby, listen to a podcast or fit in some endorphin-boosting exercise. The only rule – it has to have nothing to do with the demands of day-to-day life and everything to do with making you feel happy, centered and relaxed.
3. Make a digital detox part of your daily routine
Social media is great for building your business and connecting with friends but studies have found it can also hinder our self esteem, stifle human connectivity and elicit feelings of loneliness and FOMO. As with most things in life, moderation is key. When you get home from work, leave your phone out of reach and have a conversation with your family, flatmates or pet. Also, get in the habit of switching your phone off 30 minutes before you go to bed and replace your pre-sleep scroll-a-thon with a good book or some relaxing music. The quality of your sleep will improve and you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and ready for a productive day.
4. Learn to say no
One of the biggest mistakes we make as design professionals is not setting clear boundaries. Clients wanting to discuss design changes on a Sunday night? People you haven’t seen for 10 years getting in touch to “pick your brain”? It’s ok to say no to them in a polite yet firm way. Your time away from work is sacred, your expertise is of value, never forget that. If we allow people to take advantage of us, we can end up feeling resentful and overwhelmed. We teach people how to treat us so don’t accept anything less than care and respect.
5. Plan ahead for good nutrition
One of the most common new year’s resolutions is to eat better. But then a busy February rolls around and the unhealthy snacks and meal delivery apps sneak back into our lives. Fuelling our bodies with great nutrition is all in the planning. Spend an hour or two on a Sunday meal prepping for the week ahead. You’ll not only have a fridge stocked with nutritious meals, you’ll save money too. If cooking isn’t your thing, there are also lots of companies that deliver pre-packaged healthy meals like YouFoodz and Dineamic.
So there you have it, five easy ways to have a healthier and happier 2020.
We hope you have a wonderful festive break.
Andrew and Jillian