Your Career is a Whole-Body Experience

Your career is a whole-body experience.

Many people believe that your job is about gaining a paycheck that affords you the necessities in life.  And, if you’re focused, specialized, scrappy, lucky, and/or super hard working, it may get you even more than that.  But these days, a lot of us have noticed that our personal investment in our career has far outweighed simply the paycheck return.  The fact is, it also takes a toll on your mind and body that requires training like any other athletic pursuit.  

In my case, I had a very nomadic career in Advertising where a significant change in geography brought this to my attention.  My first big professional move was from Detroit to San Francisco which was a seismic shift in daily life, culture, and physical demand.  I was 26 so of course I thought I had the world by the balls at that point and was swiftly corrected and humbled by that move.  

At that time, my existence was largely fueled by uppers (coffee) and downers (adult beverages) with an occasional stop to spend 30 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym, and little sleep in between.  While my performance at work wasn’t terribly affected, behind the scenes I was perpetually exhausted, ignitable, commonly sick and always anxious.  While I think most of my life experiences were exactly as they were meant to be because they got me where I am today, I do wish someone could have provided me with some well-being guidance back then which would have made me much happier, healthier, and balanced in the process.

And, that’s the platform that now drives my second career path: a passion for Executive wellness.

Executive wellness is about seeing your job as more than a paycheck. It’s an opportunity to find more focus and fulfillment in your career and beyond. To be a better leader. To more clearly see the purpose in your life, and enjoy the process as well as your colleagues in it with you for the ride. It’s feeling more healthy, comfortable and resilient in your body while also more positive, hopeful, grateful and satisfied in your mind. Discovering and achieving it in my own life was enough of a game-changer for me to leave a very successful 20-year career and devote my next chapter to helping enable this transformation in others. 

The pandemic of 2020 has shined a light on all the ways we can optimize for the better moving forward.  It’s also placed incredible pressure on our mental and physical health as we navigate an ever increasing 24/7 work culture tipping the imbalance even further in our lives.  As such, it presents a ripe time to begin your commitment to metamorphosis. And let me reassure you, you don’t have to completely reinvent yourself.  Small, self-directed, but notable changes that over time can create a significantly positive lifestyle shift.  And you won’t look back.

There are a set of specific levers pulled in order to work towards optimal Executive wellness. 

There should be no expectation of reaching utopia, but rather, a commitment to the ongoing practice of rebalance as internal and external influences present us with new and ongoing challenges.  A spirit of optimism, curiosity, positivity, kindness and gratitude to ourselves and those around us are the foundation that helps us succeed.  The other levers are:

• Nutrition (focusing on whole foods that nourish rather than processed foods that drive illness)
• Movement & Exercise
• Spirituality (a sense of connectivity to something bigger than yourself)
• Purpose
• Supportive Relationships
• Sleep
• Self-Care
• Healthy Environment
• Ongoing Education

We are forever changed by what has been thrust upon us. Our working environment will be different. Our physical and mental demands are changing. How we prioritize our time and money is different. The way we compete professionally may change. Our mental and physical fitness will continue to be challenged. As such, how are you introducing or sustaining a practice of these well-being levers to create better strength and enjoyment in this journey?  What does greater purpose, passion and resiliency look like for you in life and career?  

If you’d like support and coaching through this time of change, I’d love to help you discover and shape your next chapter.  I come from a place of knowledge, experience, passion and effective results.  Let’s embrace this opportunity to rethink our lives and all the interconnected pieces of it, making healthful and holistic-minded changes that help ourselves, our businesses, and each other.

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Danielle is Founder of The Well-Intended® and an award-winning Executive Wellness Coach.  If you’d like to learn more about how The Well-Intended can help your organization click here to review our Corporate Renewal Programs and/or email danielle@thewellintended.com to discuss 1-on-1 Virtual Executive Wellness Coaching.

iStock photo credit: BrianAJackson

Disclaimer: “The Well-Intended”, and its associated blog and social media pages are owned and operated by The Well-Intended LLC and does not provide medical advice.  The Well-Intended’s author is not a physician or licensed medical expert.  The content provided shares perspective on a personal wellness journey and healthy lifestyle approach practiced by its owner in order to achieve their own health and happiness.  Please consult your physician for advice and/or guidance regarding specific concerns with your own health, vitamins, supplements, fitness plan and/or anything else health- or wellness-related.