By Jose Ruiz
Jose Ruiz serves as Alder Koten’s Chief Executive Officer providing vision, strategic direction and the roadmap for the firm’s future. He is also involved in executive search work focused on board members, CEOs and senior-level executives; and consulting engagements related to leadership and organizational effectiveness helping clients create thriving cultures.
Being a workaholic may be tempting, but the most successful people are those who can maintain the delicate balance of work and life. This way, your physical and mental health, which is crucial in any work-related activities can benefit. Google, the best place to work for six years running according to Fortune, is the proof of the importance of work-life balance.
If you do not work at Google, you can still enjoy similar results like those Googlers. The keys are these nine things to do during weekends without having to wait for your employer’s initiatives. Over time, you would notice improvements in your work productivity and performance.
One, unplug and go low-tech.
Stop checking work and personal emails and social media accounts on weekends. Stay unplugged for as long as possible on Saturday and Sunday. Only answer emergency calls from your loved ones and friends whom you have promised to meet.
Two, work on a hobby.
Focus on things that make you happy. If you love music, play some music or head to the jazz club. Immerse yourself in things that you love the most. Remember, you only live once and you work to live, not the other way around.
Three, exercise or do yoga.
Working out releases endorphins, the “happy hormones.” Just stay within your limits, don’t overdo it. The goal is to stay healthy and happy, not to be overly competitive unless you are a professional athlete (which is unlikely).
Four, meditate and get spiritual.
Stay mindful and meditate every day, if possible. At least, meditate during weekends. This way, you can learn to let go of hectic thoughts and allow your mind to quiet down. You will feel more centered afterward, which is also valuable for your work.
Five, stay within a positive circle of friends.
Things can get quite political in the office during weekdays, so it is very important to keep positive during weekends. Keep in touch with positive inner friends and stay close physically, whenever possible. Invite them for a cup of afternoon coffee or have dinner. Laugh and smile a lot. Stay relaxed.
Six, stay close to loved ones.
Hold your significant other’s hands, play with your children, visit your parents, and call your cousins and close friends. Our loved ones are like gravity for our groundedness. Whenever we meet them and feel the closeness, we are reminded of their unconditional love that makes all the things we do worthwhile.
Seven, volunteer and mentor others.
Be a big brother or a big sister to teenagers or volunteer at your local food bank. Inspire and motivate people with your presence. You will feel grateful every time you meet them, because the more we give back to the community, the more valuable we feel about ourselves.
Eight, spend time with successful co-workers.
Stay close with co-workers who are successful and positive. In other words, spend weekends with people you work with who own these traits: positive, can-do attitude, calm demeanor, and emotionally balanced. Being close to them provides you with a sense of security at the office knowing that you have people who watch your back.
Nine, spend time doing artistic things.
Using the right hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for feelings, creativity, and arts would balance out the workday activities, which likely involve using the left hemisphere of the brain. Draw abstract paintings, dance a little, write poetry, or even knit a sweater. These things would replenish your mental nourishment and make you feel ready to face Mondays.
At last, stay positive during weekdays and weekends. Whenever you start feeling burned out, don’t force yourself. Take the much-needed break and stay relaxed during weekends. Remember that work-life balance does not come automatically. You must work on them mindfully. Love yourself, so you can contribute more to your job and make a good living for your loved ones.
About Alder Koten
Alder Koten helps shape organizations through a combination of research, executive search, cultural & leadership assessment, and other talent advisory services. The firm was founded in 2011 and currently includes 6 partners and over 28 consultants in 4 cities. The firm’s headquarters are located in Houston and it has offices in Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City with partner firms in New York, Boston, Chicago, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and United Kingdom. We know where to find the executives you need and how to attract top talent to your organization. Our approach to executive search is based on a thorough understanding of the strategic, cultural, financial and operational issues our clients face. Our executive search engagements are targeted and focused on the specific requirements of the position including industry and functional experience, skills, competencies, cultural fit, and leadership style. Our process is rigorous. We take a disciplined and structured approach to identifying potential candidates that meet the position requirements including subject-matter, functional and regional expertise. We use our high-level professional networks, industry knowledge, and internal research resources to achieve results in every executive search engagement.This is a text block. Click the edit button to change this text.
