Balance for Success: A Wellness Journey Series (Episode 1: Blending Life and Career)

Est. reading time: 7 – 9 mins | Tone: Reflective, Motivational

Ideal reading moment: (1) During a quiet break, perfect for planning life and career growth. (2) When you have a few minutes to refocus, to invest in yourself, and to unlock new levels of career success.

Hi, young professionals. Let’s be honest, building a successful career while juggling everything else in life can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m excited to share my wellness journey with you. I believe that this path is crucial not only for achieving optimal career progression but also for unlocking our full potential. My updates might not be as frequent due to the demands of my professional life, which consumes almost 100% of my waking hours. However, I am committed to sharing my progress here, hopeful that we can inspire each other and grow together.

When comfort becomes dangerous

Why do I find this endeavor so vital? Throughout my career, I’ve observed that the best leaders and executives I’ve encountered prioritize not just their work, but their health and overall well-being. While I’m caught in a perpetual loop of work and sleep, they manage to carve out time for physical wellness. As a result, they possess not just an enviable physique but also a sharper mind, clearer thinking, quicker reflexes, stronger stamina, and heightened focus. I’ve long known it. Yet, knowing this is one thing; truly believing in its power is another.

Somewhere along the way, the pandemic happened and introduced me to an unexpected challenge: breathing difficulties due to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Working from home, which introduced me to a “comfy” lifestyle involving Microsoft Teams, Gojek, drivers, personal assistants, and e-commerce, suddenly had serious consequences. Not to mention the extra weight, even simple presentations left me breathless. I’d lost that confidence and control I’d worked so hard to build.

For over a year, I tried to brush it off. But a particularly rough presentation, where my director pointed out my struggle during a major presentation, became my wake-up call. Even my best presentation tricks couldn’t hide how breathless I was, my message was lost amidst my breathlessness. This time, I truly believe that my health is holding back my career. Change starts now!

Reclaiming my walking habit

Step one: Getting back to basics to regain my former vitality. A director suggested Strava, and honestly, rediscovering the simple joy of walking has been a game-changer. I always thought I needed more discipline, but Strava revealed my secret weapon: competition! It turns exercises into a thrilling competition that makes my walking game and working out way more fun. It helps me gain small victories and increase my physical fitness gradually. Currently, recording activities in Mi Fitness and syncing them with Strava is my perfect stress release.

Conquering breathlessness

I started doing research on how to overcome breathlessness during presentations and found that there is a world of potential solutions:

1. Elevating physical condition to get stronger and more resilient (those lungs and muscles will soon be in shape😎)
   • Fitness improvement
   • Mindful weight management
2. Breathwork training to master belly breathing and friends
   • Diaphragmatic breathing
   • Mindfulness training
   • Other variations (e.g., rhythm: fast vs slow; mouth vs nose breathing)
3. Presentation skill improvement
   • Pacing and pausing techniques (e.g., speak slowly)
   • Improving postures
   • Stand up and move during presentation preparation

I am interested to dive deeper into that list. I believe that failure is a sign you’re on to something big? Someone on Twitter even wrote that being able to fail is a privilege. I used to be terrible at public speaking. Years of practice later, through persistence and passion, I’ve turned it into one of my greatest strengths. Next up? Mastering my breath. This journey’s just begun, and I’m all in.

Here’s to health, learning, a more successful career, and a whole lot of fun along the way! 🌟

Fun fact: Even my Mi Fitness app has a breathwork feature! Turns out, tech that keeps me accountable is key. Expect a deep dive on this soon on how transformative these tools can be.😉

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