4 Tips to Help You Tackle Boundaries, Balance & a Thriving Brand
I decided that I am making changes in 2022…OKAY I feel like I say that every year! However, I have to be honest, it’s something about the vibe of how I entered the new year that let’s me know, this year is definitely going to be different and in an amazing way!
I AM sure of this one change – I will be implementing boundaries! I don’t know if you ever think about or realize how your your life is impacted when you don’t set specific boundaries. You can thank Nedra Glover Tawwab and her book “Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself,” for my newfound dedication to setting healthy boundaries AND using the full sentence “No.”
Specifically, when you’re working on building a thriving brand – it’s imperative that you have boundaries in place to safeguard yourself and your brand. You have to find balance – you can’t do ALL the things (my husband tells me this all the time) and then think you’re going to be on top of your game.
I’m off of my self-care box, while sometimes these days it seems to be more about survival. However, we need to do more than just survive, we need to THRIVE. I’m here to remind you that, Yes, you can have a thriving personal brand AND you will, as soon as you set boundaries and strive for balance.
So let’s start with 4 simple things to consider…I say let’s start, because we are likely going to revisit this topic!
#1 Plan your Day
This isn’t rocket science right, but do you ever find yourself out of whack when you haven’t mapped out a plan for the day? Every morning, or sometimes the evening before, I map out my day, hour by hour….even including my lunch break (we’re going to get to that in a minute).
What is your plan for the day? What is it that you absolutely have to get done today, and what can wait until tomorrow? Creating a plan will boost your efficiency and productivity. We have to be strategic and thoughtful about our time, and the importance of this investment for our brand.
*Bonus – On Sundays try writing down all the things you need to get done for the week, and then go back through and assign days to the task, based on their priority.
#2 Take a lunch break, Sis
I repeat…. TAKE A LUNCH BREAK…don’t let them schedule meetings during your lunch break all the time. Okay, maybe it’s a lunch meeting, but don’t make this a habit. Your lunch break serves as time away from the desk. It is specifically made for you to breathe and get your space for a hot second. We can easily fall into this trap while working from home. Run to the kitchen to grab your lunch and then come back to the computer.
No, step away from the desk, table, laptop, whatever. Take some time to gather your thoughts before you start working again. Maybe finish your lunch and take a quick walk. This really does contribute to your success, your brain has to be fresh in order to function properly.
#3 Short meetings are okay…
I promise you that it’s okay for your meeting to be 30 minutes, maybe even 15. You can get a lot done, when there is an agenda and everyone has come prepared for the meeting. Back to back meetings are THE worst! You have to at least give yourself some time to run to the restroom, right? Do you feel yourself losing focus during long meetings? It’s probably because - you all addressed the most important item during the first 15-20 minutes. Practice what you preach, when setting meetings for your team consider just a 15 minute midweek check-in instead of a 90 minute session.
#4 One day a week needs to be a DAY OFF …
Your eyes got really big just now. HA!!
Let’s compromise, how about at least one day a month to shut off and regroup? Your body and your mind will appreciate it. After returning from your little break, the following days should be full of productivity due to the day of rest. Do not feel pressured to work a crazy amount of hours per week. Being super busy and burnt out – is really not a good look. Take breaks when necessary.
I love this quote from Sherri White’s article "How I Transformed From Being Burnt Out To Restored, and Why I Know You Can Too”...
“Be a full on participant in your own rescue in 2022, and beyond, because I know you can do this too. It only takes one wiser decision to get started and take a leap of faith that will improve your life and help you escape feeling overwhelmed and under-appreciated. Enough is enough, sis.
If you don’t take anything else away from today’s post, know that constantly working can mentally and emotionally drain you. Learn to take care of your mental health just as much as you take care of your physical health.
I believe 2022 is our year for greatness. Remember boundaries + balance = a thriving personal brand!
Blog co-authored by: A. Elliott