After 6 months of weekly commuting to Washington D.C. from Boston in 2014, I was nearing burnout. It was during this nomadic period that I had enough time on my own to think about what worked best for me to stay sane amidst the hustle. Here are the lessons I share with friends:

1) Spend time thinking about time.

- edit (invest energy only with organizations and people who also energize you),
- prioritize (make it clear to yourself, who and what matters most),
- automate (search for apps and services that save you time and energy), and
- delegate (whether you contract a virtual assistant for a few hours a month, or ask friends and family to help out.. don’t be shy to offload - it takes a village).

2) Invest in relationships, daily.

Whether with family, friends or colleagues, make headspace to proactively reach out and support your tribe. Share your gratitude for them often. Study the 5 love languages so that you are equipped with a framework to evaluate which actions will resonate best. It’s only with those closest to you that you can share half-baked ideas openly and question each other’s assumptions and beliefs. The resulting vulnerable conversations have led me to exceptional collaborations and extraordinary outcomes. 

3) Prioritize yourself, mentally and physically.

I battled obesity throughout my adolescence. As a result, I know how difficult life can be when weight and energy levels are always fluctuating, along with feelings of self-worth and self-confidence. To carve time out of life’s demands for fitness is a luxury and exercising regularly is much easier said than done. For me, a community spirit motivates me to show up; you’ll most likely find me on a tennis court, in a group fitness class, or biking with my daughter atop the handlebars.

Once I improved my habits around exercise, I focused on my habits around food. Rachel Clarkson, a dietitian specializing in personalized recommendations based on your DNA, helped me identify many areas of improvement that allow me to maintain even sugar levels - giving me the stamina I need to stay present throughout the day. Whether you contact her, or find someone local, it’s worth learning more about what your body needs to fuel itself best

Lastly, and most importantly, mental health. We are always evolving and are not always equipped with enough life experience, the right mentors, or the tools to understand our needs, let alone communicate them to those who care about us. The School of Life has a good overview of the different types of counseling and therapy available - they also offer virtual sessions, which I have found as valuable as in person counseling. Workshops and therapy have been life changing, yet a daily dose of mindfulness has also made a difference for me. Setting aside what you may think of him, try this 10-min Tony Robbins session that is sure to energize.

MW