This month I would like to take a different angle to my other blogs and focus on something that is very apparent to my current life situation. Those who know me well or follow me on social media know that in November 2018 I had my first child which has tuned my world upside down, in an amazing way. My previous London fast paced life has stopped as I have chosen to be a mother and focus on Tungsten Management Group full time. My new daily schedule has to fit in my work and my family. I wanted to discuss why fitness and using the outdoors has enabled me to keep my mental wellbeing balanced which in turn, has had huge benefits for the business.
I have always been a very active person, from playing netball through to running marathons so it is vital for my state of mind to exercise. The process of exercise allows the body to release chemicals called endorphins which trigger a positive feeling in the body and has been proven to help your mental state. There is a very interesting article that goes into depth about exercise and how it helps reduce depression, anxiety and stress as exercise can be an antidepressant but with no side-effects. The endorphins boost your spirit and make you feel good, allow you to focus on your body and stop the worries running through your head and also endorphins helps to relax your muscles and relieve tension in the body. * The feel good factor we get from exercise can assist with building our confidence as a clear mind will ensure we see our achievements, ensure we make better decisions and seeing physical improvements will certainly boost your confidence. Jessica Harman says “the fitness industry has shifted focus from the performance, strength and shape of our bodies to our wellbeing and mental health and thus supports the concentration on exercises mental benefits.”
Since becoming a mum I have found walking and spending time with my personal trainer allows me to clear my mind. As a result, my time dedicated to TMG is more efficient and productive. I have limited time to dedicate to the business, yet I am now more focused than I was before motherhood. I have become more disciplined by dedicating a block of time each day to spend on TMG that suits my daily routine.
I have learnt to make the most of help and expertise of others. Before I had to balance work and motherhood, I use to take on the responsibility of all tasks and roles both in the business and personally. When you cannot choose the routine of a young child then you have to take help when offered. I have been lucky to have help locally for child care, so I can maximise my time spent with my son whilst being efficient in the office and also have time to pursue exercise. I have also found a builder who takes on a PM role and sources elements of the refurbs for me. I give him a budget and an overall idea of the look and feel of the end product, but he will for example, source tiles within budget and simply ask for my opinion before purchasing them. I also have a management team to manage the HMO’s as I need to spend my time where it is most advantageous and where I wish to be!
An example of being efficient with time is that I now ensure that I am not disturbed by my son or social platforms when I am working. My son spends time with his grandparents and I place all my devices on airplane mode to avoid distractions. I previously went from task to task without completing the task fully but now I complete each task which gives me mental satisfaction that a task has been completed and also gets the job done! We have to be disciplined with my time on social media. The Telegraph reported that in 2017, people in the UK spend 1 day a week on social media . The use of social media is unavoidable but it can be used for your advantage. It can publicise what you do and you can build common ground with others. Business is about connections – building these connections is easier when you have something in common. If you can research a potential business associate’s profile before meeting them, it shows that you are serious about working with this person and you can create common ground. I have secured business by mentioning my love of running knowing that the person I was with had a running show – this demonstrates my integrity and also acts as a conversation starter. Taking part in sport, especially a team sport demonstrates your team strength and allows you to develop your competition characteristics. You have to compete in all areas and levels of business and practising this in sport ensures that you have the drive to improve and grow but also cope when things do not go along your planned trajectory. Jeff Haden’s article dives into the benefits of team sports and improved mental health ****
“It is so important that you work your butt off. Don’t ever look for shortcuts. There are 24 hours a day. If you only sleep for 6 hours a day, then you have 18 hours left. Most people work 8 or 10 hours. SO now you still have 8 hours left. What do we do with these eight hours is really the question”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Take Away Points
UExercise is vital to achieve a balance mindset
Fitness can allow you to build common ground
A clear mind can allow you to make better choices and be more productive in a shorter time period.
