Written by Heather Williams, Certified Fitness Professional
Heather Williams is well-known when it comes to empowering women in midlife to prioritize their well-being and thrive. She is the founder of Journey24EverFit, an online fitness platform offering Fitness and Goal Coaching, Personal Training, and virtual fitness classes.
Last month, everywhere I turned, I heard people discussing their wellness challenges and struggles to see progress. In my July article, Invisible Progress: 6 Keys To Celebrating Unseen Success, we explored recognizing and valuing the subtle, often overlooked changes in our fitness journey. Continuing the conversation and applying these concepts to our professional lives might be helpful.
As National Wellness Month comes to a close, it's worth reflecting on how our cultivated habits can continue to serve us, especially in our professional lives. One of the most powerful yet often overlooked aspects of wellness is the power of consistency. Showing up regularly, even when results aren't immediately visible, is a form of progress that can significantly impact our careers.
I honestly believe that fitness is the foundation of a holistic, well-balanced life, not a perfect life, but a balanced one. Often, we throw in the towel on our fitness endeavors to prioritize something or someone else. We make this decision out of guilt or the belief that we don't want to appear selfish.
But prioritizing your health isn't selfish. It's a necessity to have the energy you need to maintain balance and juggle tasks. This is where the airplane analogy comes in: you've likely heard flight attendants instruct passengers to put on their oxygen masks before assisting others in an emergency. This isn't about selfishness but ensuring you're in the best position to help others.
The same principle applies to your wellness and productivity. By prioritizing your fitness and well-being, you're 'putting on your oxygen mask first.' This allows you to perform better in all areas of your life, including your career. When you're physically and mentally fit, you have more energy, better focus, and increased resilience to handle workplace challenges.
What is the invisible edge?
The invisible edge is the subtle yet powerful advantage that consistent wellness habits provide in your professional life. It's the cumulative effect of small, daily actions that enhance your mental clarity, boost your energy levels, and improve your resilience. While these benefits might not be immediately apparent, they gradually build up, giving you a distinct edge in your career performance and overall productivity.
How do we gain the invisible edge?
To gain the invisible edge, we must cultivate consistent wellness habits that integrate seamlessly into our professional lives. Here are three key strategies:
These examples are inspired by the real experiences of my clients and social media followers who reclaim their energy and thrive in all aspects of their lives. While their journeys aren't perfect, they're attainable and demonstrate the power of consistent wellness habits in professional settings.
1. Redefine progress
beyond just physical appearance. Recognize that progress in your fitness journey includes mental resilience, energy levels, and daily habits. Instead of focusing solely on weight loss or muscle gain, focus on how exercise improves mood, increases energy, and enhances sleep quality. These less visible aspects of fitness profoundly impact your overall well-being.
Professional edge: Progress in your career isn't just about promotions or pay raises. It's about developing resilience to workplace stress, maintaining high energy levels throughout the day, and cultivating habits that enhance your productivity and job satisfaction.
Take Claire, for example, a former upper management professional who now runs her own consulting business. She found that consistently practicing mindfulness meditation for 10 minutes each morning improved her focus and decision-making skills. This invisible edge helped her overcome imposter syndrome and tackle challenging client consultations with renewed confidence. The improved mood and energy from her wellness routine directly translated to better performance and satisfaction in her professional life.
2. Embrace the power of consistency
Acknowledge that showing up regularly for your fitness routine, even when results aren't immediately visible, is a form of progress. Consistently engaging in physical activity, even if it's just a 15-minute walk each day, builds discipline and resilience. Over time, these small efforts compound, improving your overall fitness and establishing a routine that becomes second nature.
Professional edge: Consistency in your fitness routine translates to mental clarity and discipline in your job. Regular exercise improves cognitive function, enhancing your decision-making skills and ability to focus on complex tasks. This mental sharpness gives you an edge in high-pressure situations or when tackling challenging projects.
Consider Genny, a life coach juggling multiple responsibilities. She incorporated short, high-intensity workouts into her daily routine. This consistent practice not only improved her energy levels but also enhanced her time management skills, allowing her to serve her clients more effectively while maintaining her well-being. The discipline she developed through her fitness routine spilled over into her professional life, helping her manage her various roles more efficiently.
3. Challenge self-limiting narratives and beliefs
Question your narrative about what you can or cannot achieve in your fitness journey. Push past the assumption that you're "not athletic" or "too busy to exercise." Start with small, achievable fitness goals and gradually increase the challenge. Each small victory builds confidence and proves you're capable of more than you initially believed.
Professional edge: By challenging self-limiting beliefs in your wellness journey, you're also developing the mindset to push boundaries in your career. This could lead to new responsibilities, pursuing leadership roles, or innovating in your field. The confidence gained from overcoming fitness challenges translates directly to tackling professional obstacles with greater self-assurance.
A social media coach and mother of young children, Alicia is an excellent example. She started by challenging her belief that she was too busy for self-care. By prioritizing her sleep hygiene and establishing a consistent bedtime routine, she could manage stress better and maintain the creativity needed for her growing business, all while balancing family responsibilities. This small change in her wellness routine gave her the confidence to take on more considerable challenges in her company, leading to significant growth.
As we transition from Wellness Month into the fall season, I invite you to sign up for a complimentary Wellness Chat.
Our strategy session will explore your current habits and professional goals. Together, we'll identify the invisible edges in your wellness routine that can propel your career forward. We'll craft a personalized plan that aligns your wellness practices with your professional aspirations, ensuring that every step you take towards better health is also a step towards tremendous success.
By the end of our session, you'll have a clear roadmap for leveraging your wellness habits for career advancement, understand how to measure and appreciate your invisible progress, and feel empowered to make impactful changes in your personal and professional life.
Read more from Heather Williams
Heather Williams, Certified Fitness Professional
Heather Williams is a certified fitness professional with 37 years of experience empowering women over 45, particularly executives and business owners, to prioritize their well-being and reclaim their vitality through her holistic approach to fitness. As the founder of Journey24EverFit, an online fitness platform, Heather offers personalized Fitness and Goal Coaching, as well as virtual fitness classes. Her unique methodology uses fitness as a foundation for daily self-care, combining physical fitness with mindset strategies to help women rediscover joy, boost their energy levels, and thrive in both their personal and professional lives. Heather's clients praise her for her flexibility, sincere dedication to her profession, and her positive energy and influence. With her expertise and passion, Heather is committed to ensuring that no woman is left behind on her journey to optimal wellness.
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