What’s your plan for 2024? Mine is wellbeing.

Following a busy 2023 due to work and family commitments, sickness, the loss of friends and colleagues, feeling unfit and crawling into the holidays feeling run down, I reflected on how to make 2024 the year to focus on my wellbeing, and ways in which I can bring more balance into my life. 

Devastatingly in the middle of 2023, one of our Group Executives passed away from an incurable illness. Her passing left an undeniable mark on us, creating momentum for change. Her sudden passing reminded us that life can be cut short and that both our health and wellbeing, as well as striving for balance in our busy lives are paramount. So, this year at Engineers Australia our Executive Team are focusing on wellbeing and balance. At Engineers Australia (EA), our people are at the heart of what we do, and why we do it, and health, safety and wellbeing continue to be our highest priorities. I am proud of our Executive Team for continuing to strengthen our culture of wellbeing at EA.

Last year many colleagues strongly and subtly suggested I needed to take regular leave. Finally, I ended up taking a month off over Christmas, something I haven’t done in a while.  As a family with my nephew tagging along, we visited the UK (my youngest studies there) travelling into the Scottish Highlands, across to Bergen Norway, then to Copenhagen and back to the UK. The time away from work, being with family, experiencing other cultures, museums and palaces, enjoying nature, and walking on average 13km’s every day, rejuvenated me.  We climbed the tallest mountain in Bergen on Christmas day (without ice shoes-rookie mistake) and took a dip in the waters off Bergen where the temperature was 1.9 outside and 2.3 in the water. The walking and climbing gave me a sense of awe like the astronauts and their experience of the overview effect -envisioning yourself or the world from a great distance. An interesting fact, experiencing the overview effect is one of the most reliable ways to evoke awe.

Now that I have had this inspiring break, I realise what not having a holiday during 2023 did to my wellbeing, productivity, and ability to be strategic and resilient. I have now diarized regular leave and breaks this year. However, ensuring I have leave isn’t the only thing I should be focusing on when it comes to my wellbeing.

A colleague, Duncan Young, was one of the original advocates for wellbeing in the property industry when working for Lendlease.  Duncan has written an excellent blog ‘Can you build your ideal wellbeing day?’ https://www.duncanyoung.com/blog/can-you-build-your-ideal-wellbeing-day.

Duncan talks about how “numerous studies suggest that when we have high levels of wellbeing, we are not only healthier and happier, but we also have more energy, are more resilient and more productive in our work.” That “all it can take are small changes that can even take as little as 5 – 10 minutes of our time.” So “nudge your wellbeing – by committing to small wellbeing choices each day.”

What will I be doing to nudge my wellbeing?

1.      Move: I aim to exercise/move daily - usually for me that means walking, ocean swimming, weights, and yoga.

2.      Food: I usually stick to a Mediterranean diet.

3.      Breaks: Ensure I have small breaks throughout the day to stretch - instead of an hour meeting make it 50 minutes and instead of 30 minutes make it 20 minutes.

4.      Team ways of working: Being conscious of our expectations on our teams and ensure they have the freedom and tools to support their wellbeing.

5.      Reading: Read a book.  I am currently reading Julia Baird’s “Bright shining – how grace changes everything”. Reading helps me quieten my mind and step outside of my own shoes.

6.      Productivity: Manage my energy. The HBR article on “Manage your energy not your time” based on the Energy project resonated with me “most people realise they tend to perform best when they are feeling positive energy”. https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time

7.      Sleep: Aim for a good night sleep. Former National President and Chair Dr Nick Fleming recommends “Why we sleep” by Matthew Walker.  By the way he also just finished “Outlive” by Dr Peter Attia.

8.      Community: Aim for more moments of connection. During Covid some surf lifesaving buddies, and I started a walking and ocean swimming groups. We still meet weekly; all year round and now compete in ocean swimming races.

So, what's your plan for 2024?

#wellbeing #mentalhealth #leadership #peopleandculture

David Madew Jack Evans