By LeAnna J. Carey | Dec 02, 2011
What is the one thing that we all have in common? We are all subject to time. The same 24 hours that everyone has. We are nearing the end of the year and when you look back on your accomplishments, did you do everything that you set out to do? In response to the unpredictable market place many have found themselves reevaluating personal and career priorities. One quote worth reflecting on is from Samuel Johnson, in Boswell's Life of Johnson, "it is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done, compared to what he might have done." Even in 1770, it seems as though meandering through life was not an option for some, and clearly, now is not the time to be vague about goals - especially, if you are an executive. If we are to be mindful of our time, then what is it that we should be doing to master or make time work for us both professionally and personally?
First of all, nourish your future. Consider that people are living and working longer, and the new normal is to feel completely exhausted from trying to over, out, and super achieve. John Beeson, the Principal of Beeson Consulting, just posted an excellent article on The Myth of Work-Life Balance, in today's issue of Harvard Business Review, where he emphasizes that for executives personal organization is a more realistic goal than trying to achieve a work life balance. Keep in mind, that Beeson, is being realistic, in light of our rapidly changing business environment. What may help these executives integrate their work with how they nourish their life, and at the same time enhance performance and competitiveness is making a few simple lifestyle changes:
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Power down a couple of hours before bed
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Eat a light dinner - front load calories to the first half of the day
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Move around through out the day - go outside for a few minutes
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Sleep in a dark room
Executives are acutely aware of what they can accomplish in their 24 hours and I am always in awe of what some exec's accomplish. What I see as a risk for executives is the potential of outspending themselves if they neglect to prioritize their personal needs just as they would do for their companies. Aligned with Beeson's concept of organization, executives that nourish or structure their life/lifestyle for success will be living their "A" game in and outside of the office. The key is I-N-T-E-G-R-A-T-I-O-N!
By LeAnna J. Carey | Jun 14, 2011
Oprah said, " Everyone has to learn to think differently, bigger, to open to possibilities" When was the last time you reflected or imagined your possibilities? To cultivate a blueprint of possibilities you need to tap into perspective - and that requires energy. As impossible as it sounds, successfully meeting the demands of life and balance are both achievable if you have an open perspective and a healthy energy flow. While the connection between mind and body can probably be attributed to the ancient Greeks, in contemporary society, most of us are trying to create a balanced life and live to our fullest potential.
When picturing someone who realizes their possibilities, does that person also look like a person with a great deal of personal energy? We have previously addressed that one of the most important steps to feeling energized is to get enough sleep; now, let's explore changing the way you think. One helpful tip is remove 'tail-enders' - yes, you heard me, correctly. According to Feinstein, Eden & Craig, in their book, The Promise of Energy Psychology, "tail-enders involve a limiting self-image that instructs you that the desired state is not possible, you are not capable of it." Their example, "But, if I lose the weight, others will expect me to keep it off," or in this case, my example, 'if I tap into my possibilities, I may have to make different lifestyle chioces." Feinstein, et al, goes on to suggest to bring your goal, even if dimly recognized, into the forefront, write it down; doing this may reveal attitudes that are keeping your goals from becoming a reality.
Thinking differently is the first step to changing anything in our lifestyle, so let's start with understanding that a key resource for restoring your energy is your circadian synchrony- in other words, the timing of light, ambient temperature, the timing of meals, fluids and activity are all related and need to be in sync. It's also important to realize that your personal energy is renewable! Your possibilities will take you as far as you have the energy to discover and act on them. Being open to and connecting with the elemental energy and rhythms of the natural world like sunlight, the sky, the signs of the current season, the time of day, is an ever present source of energy that automatically makes us more open. If you are making daily lifestyle choices to sync up, you are stoking your daily source of energy - consider the possibilities!
By LeAnna J. Carey | Apr 05, 2011
Cicero said that the art of medicine is valuable to us because it is conducive to health, not because of its scientific interest. You have to admit, there is a great deal of wisdom packed into that statement and begs the question, where is medicine now and where does it need to go? With healthcare spending growing faster than inflation and national income [1], it would appear that we should focus on something more sustainable than treating disease, invasive procedures and writing prescriptions.
One area that is holding promise is Lifestyle Medicine where promoting a healthy lifestyle engages consumers in new levels of conversations with their physician. Lifestyle medicine is defined as the application of environmental, behavioral, medical and motivational principles to the management of lifestyle-related health problems in a clinical setting [2].
I recently, had the opportunity to discuss with author physician, Dr. Stuart Seale, MD and innovator physician, Dr. Virginia Gurley, MD, the importance of personal health choices, sleep, nutrition, and how personally rewarding it would be for both physician and patient to connect over the elements of integrative and lifestyle medicine. The discussion over what truly constitutes health and how this topic relates to the fundamental changes needed in our healthcare system coming from physicians is not only motivating, but a call to action for all of us in healthcare to look at our own health behaviors and willingness to be mindful for a healthier lifestyle. I hope that you enjoy this podcast where two physician thought-leaders are doing more that philosophizing, but leading the way in transforming the way we think about and create health.