It’s that time of the year again and Leanne Williams* shares advice on how to hang in till the end of the week.
We all juggle competing priorities.
After a week playing the role of coach, counsellor, media spokesperson, facilitator, listener, leader, mother, baker, cook and cleaner just to name a few, it is understandable that I am feeling worn out.
As a fully-fledged extrovert, never in my life would I have expected and craved so much to have peaceful silence.
I do draw my energy from other people; however as a chief executive, non-executive director and mum of three young children, silence is a rare commodity for me.
Here is how I re-energise.
One of my favourite things to do is sit in the sun, listening to the peaceful distant sounds of the countryside.
Absorbing the warmth and light from the sun on my skin, being present and aware of my senses, smelling the grass and listening to the breeze.
It is an incredibly relaxing experience.
I read a book at the park while the kids have fun playing.
Whilst this might not be silence, it has a number of benefits.
Firstly I can relax and read; secondly I love listening to the laughter of my kids playing happily together.
The park provides them with a sense of adventure with a minimal input from me.
I go to the gym to smash it out on the treadmill and weights, or more importantly for me, stretching.
It is the stretching that I enjoy most and it helps me unwind.
I go for a walk at 5.30am. This is another great time to enjoy the quiet and do something for myself before anyone else wakes up.
I often have people say to me: “I can’t believe you get up so early” or: “I couldn’t do that, I am not a morning person”.
I never used to be a morning person either; however, I have found that this is the one time of the day that is 100 per cent mine.
The benefits that bring to my health and well-being are huge — and the dog enjoys it too.
I have dinner with girlfriends once a month.
I am incredibly fortunate to have been brought together with an amazing group of women.
We are all very different but share common values, kids of the same age and a desire to support each other, be connected and be grateful for the small things.
They have a huge impact on me and help me to be calm and grounded.
I learn so much from them every time we get together.
Self-reflection is an important part of being good at my job, but I also find it’s really important to becoming a better parent.
Struggling to remain present at home with my family when I am having a stressful week can be hard, but reflecting on what I did well and what I need to work on is important for me to not repeat the same mistakes.
Oh and then there is Netflix!
Whilst I can’t do all these things every week, maintaining a combination of these strategies over a period of two or four weeks helps me maintain my mental and physical health and wellbeing.
*Leanne Williams is a Victorian-based chief executive, non-executive director and mother of three young children who leads an entrepreneurial, authentic, collaborative and values based life. She can be contacted at linkedin.com
This article first appeared on LinkedIn.
