We know change doesn’t come easy, which is why making sweeping declarations doesn’t usually work. But where big changes often prove too challenging, bite-sized ones can have a big impact.
Last column we spoke about setting themes for the year ahead rather than resolutions. While it is important to have a general guide to what you want to accomplish, it is also helpful to set yourself up for success. Rather than setting overwhelming goals, like running a marathon or going a year without a budgetary miss, accomplishing tiny, noticeable tasks can help to build better habits and eventually better outcomes.
We have you covered with some unique and practical solutions to add a bit of positivity and help with overall well-being. The great part of these suggestions is that you can start any time making small but accretive changes to your daily life.
Build a better budget
Budgeting time in the corporate world is typically on a fall cycle and then there are monthly and quarterly reconciliations. If this isn’t happening for you, take the time on a monthly basis to really scrutinize where you were able to find savings and where you may have estimated too low. The same goes for your personal life. Adapting to changes and staying as agile as possible with your budget can make the entire year less stressful because it gives you a sense of financial visibility that is helpful in planning.
Be kind
Take the time to identify positives in each day and with each of the people you are interacting with, including yourself. If there are mistakes that have been made along the way, figure out how you and your team can learn from the experience. Take the time to identify positive attributes regularly.
Clear out the clutter
Mess and extra clutter can make every day seem overwhelming. In the office, deep cleaning doesn’t only need to happen in the spring. Remove files that are past their hold date. Do digital detox when you can, and shred papers that are no longer required to be held. At home, you can do a closet cleaning, pantry rearrangement or de-clutter busy spaces like the kitchen. Getting rid of things that don’t serve you well has lasting impacts on your overall sense of well-being.
Just a little veg
Most of the time, it is easier to reach for convenience foods rather than healthier options like fruits and vegetables. So, one of the things we can do for us and our teams is to make fruits and vegetables the easiest option. The vitamins and minerals contained in fruits and vegetables support a healthy mind and healthy heart. You can also design your weeks to add one fruit or vegetable a day to your current routine. Put items on your shopping list and consider adding a vegan option to your team meeting. It’s good for you and great for the planet.
Take a break
One of the biggest issues with compliance and risk professionals is the dedication to the profession each of us has. As a profession, we hold much of the corporate weight on our shoulders either trying to prevent things from going catastrophically wrong or managing the crisis when things go off the rails. You cannot grind endlessly through your professional existence without taking a break. Research has found that by overstretching yourself, you’re at increased risk of burnout, mental fatigue, sleep issues, aches and pains, anxiety and depression. So, hold time to be distraction free and give yourself a little break. If you manage a team, be on the watch for those who seem to be falling into the trap of being overstretched and start setting healthy boundaries, including leading by example.
Surround yourself with a little extra beauty
Find images of places, people and things that make you happy. Perhaps that little bowl you discovered in a flea market in Paris makes you smile, a picture of your nephew dressed for a holiday meal or your favorite vacation treasure — all of these things can bring back happy memories to be a source of grounding and support throughout the day. Add a few little things to your desktop or home to have moments of joy regularly. Take a moment to change the location or add to these items to keep things fresh.
Find little things that can make a big difference over time to make yourself happier and healthier at home and at work.
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