DEVELOPMENT
Staying healthy
while managing a
demanding job
Being an EA is often a 24 hour, seven day a
week job. But knowing when to stop and get
some much-needed rest or exercise is vital to
success says Karen Gately
THE EXPERT
Karen Gately, founder
of Corporate Dojo,
is a leadership and
people-management
specialist. Karen works
with leaders and HR
teams to drive results
through the talent and
energy of people.
Reflect for a moment on whether you have the
depth of energy and vitality you need to be at your
best at work. Do you stop when you need to, or
do you keep pushing through irrespective of how
tired you feel? How often do you recognise the
signs of stress and take steps to decompress and
recover well?
While it’s great to be dedicated and in service
to your boss, colleagues and organisation, the
harsh reality is if you’re slogging through with
little regard for your own health and wellbeing,
your chances of performing at your peak are
dramatically undermined.
Many EAs struggle to stay healthy especially
when working in a demanding job. Long hours,
competing priorities, tight deadlines and
resources and the somewhat unpredictable nature
of the job are common reasons why EAs reach
a point of burn out and face the physical and
psychological consequences of overwork.
Most of us learned to eat a well-balanced diet,
get plenty of sleep, engage in regular moderate
exercise so you’ve pretty much got it covered. Add
to the list spending time doing the things you love,
avoiding too much sugar, alcohol and caffeine and
chances are you’ll have the energy needed to thrive.
While the wellbeing formula isn’t complex,
the real challenge for most of us is consistently
applying these simple rules to managing our
health every day. Overcoming this battle starts
with making our well-being matter. Not just in
theory but in practice. Among the most important
steps you can take include these:
Learn to say no. Over investing typically driven
by a desire to please, is a common reason why
EAs end up with too much on their plate. The
simple reality is there are so many hours in your
day and only so many outputs you can generate.
It’s critical that you understand priorities and
have the confidence to be upfront about what is
possible and what isn’t.
Manage your energy. It’s illogical to expect
our minds and bodies to keep functioning well
when running low on fuel, and yet all too often
people push themselves to keep going when they
are running on empty. The strength of your spirit,
that is the depth of energy you have in reserve,
has a profound influence on your ability to think
clearly, manage emotion and behave in ways that
enable your performance. Make having energy a
priority and you’re more likely to recognise when
it’s time to stop.
Taking the time to eat breakfast or lunch, to get
some fresh air, to connect with energising people,
or exercise can have a big impact on your ability
to focus, make clear decisions and get your job
done efficiently. It’s a false economy to just keep
moving forward when your mind and body are
screaming for time out.
Be open with your boss about how you intend
to manage your health and ability to thrive. Be
clear about the support you need from them to
make that possible. For example, if getting out for
a regular walk is important to you, ask that they
support you to make that a priority every day.
While it may feel confronting to ask for what
you need, keep in mind the healthier you are, the
more likely your boss is to benefit from the work
you do. Remember also that you aren’t asking
for a favour. You are simply requesting that they
respect the very reasonable boundary you are
putting in place that will allow you to break away
from work to get much-needed exercise or rest.
Arguably the most important step you can take
to manage your health is to choose your thoughts.
How we choose to perceive our reality and respond
to people and events directly influences the levels
of stress and anxiety we ultimately feel. Reflect for
a moment on how your thoughts impact the stress
you feel and the choices you make.
For example, is perfectionism driving you to
give more than you need to? Keep the importance
of the work you do in perspective. Recognise that
while in many jobs there are times you need to dig
deep and give more, no reasonable employer will
expect you to maintain that pace without periods
of rest and recovery. S
www.corporatedojo.com
Issue 1 2020 | Chief of Staff 53