In today’s fast-moving, information-overload world, making time for ourselves is considered a luxury. You’re not alone if prioritising health and wellbeing gets lost on your to-do list, let alone finding the optimal work-life balance. The Office for National Statistics found that more people felt low satisfaction with their lives in the UK in January to March 2024 than in the same period five years ago.
A report by the British Red Cross also highlights that loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26 per cent and a lack of belonging causes a significant drop in productivity at work. As a business leader, I find that setting goals and exploring my creativity help me to feel grounded, present and happy overall. Going back to basics to make sure daily needs are met is crucial, too – things like sleep, food and hydration are easy to overlook but can impact how you feel from moment to moment.
Regular exercise is also a cornerstone of health and wellbeing. Personally, I like to run. Not only does exercise get the endorphins going, but it also helps me get out into nature and carve space for me-time in my busy schedule.
I am currently training to run the London Marathon in 2025 with donations going to Hertfordshire Community Foundation, which means I am pairing physical fitness with another passion of mine – giving back to my community. Prioritising ourselves means prioritising the things that are important to us, too. That’s one of the reasons why the Chamber i.