By Brittney Megann (CEO & Head Socialista of Socials & Stilettos)
If you are a busy CEO like me, you already know that work-life balance is a struggle and that struggle is REAL.
My name is Brittney Megann and I am the CEO & Head Socialista of Socials & Stilettos, a boutique social media, marketing, and PR agency based in Toronto, Ontario. Over the past 7 years of entrepreneurship, I have struggled quite a bit with the whole work/life balance thing. So much so, that there was even a time that I lost myself along the way.
I get it, we’re ambitious and driven women surrounded by a world that screams “hustle mode” and “you can sleep when you’re dead”, but what kind of a life is that? I don’t know about you, but when I signed up for this whole entrepreneurship thing, I did it so that I can live a better life. One full of freedom and the ability to do what felt best for me and my body!
The thing about entrepreneurship is that nobody tells you when to turn off your computer. Nobody gives you permission to give yourself a little bit of grace & do the things you love to do.
So guess what girlfriend, today I’m going to share with you some of my BIGGEST lifestyle hacks for the busy CEOs and entrepreneurs just like me so that you can take back control of your life & start reaping all of the juicy benefits of being a CEO has to offer. Are you ready? Let’s jump in!
#1 Set Your Office Hours
This was a huge struggle for me in the beginning, especially being the workaholic that I am. I remember thinking “If I don’t answer this Instagram DM or website inquiry right away, I’m going to lose out on this client”…
Girlfriend, let me tell you. Boundaries are crucial when it comes to work-life balance and your mental health. People don’t expect you to drop everything and reply right away, and I can promise you that the message/email inquiry will be there tomorrow.
Setting yourself up with “office hours” and making them crystal clear with your clients & team is one of the best ways to ensure you are giving yourself enough time off to decompress and “reset” after each work day.
#2 Move Your Body
This one is huge, especially for the CEOs who sit at a desk all day. Whether you are somebody who loves pilates or heavy lifting, finding something that gets your body moving is huge for not only your mental health but your physical health too. Even if it’s just 15-20 minutes, take that time for yourself!
As my spirit animal Elle Woods would say “Exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t kill their husbands, they just don’t.”.
#3 Time Blocking
This one is HUGE! Especially if you find yourself with a never-ending “to-do” list like me. Whether you are someone who loves a traditional pen-and-paper style planner or a digital calendar type of girl, time blocking is one of the best ways to ensure you are being as productive as you possibly can throughout the day!
If you haven’t heard of time blocking before, it’s essentially scheduling blocks of time in your calendar to work on tasks listed on your to-do list. Each week, I like to set a 10-minute timer and brain-dump everything that I need to work on for the week. Once the timer goes off, I go ahead and schedule each of my tasks in their own little time blocks on my google calendar. My biggest tip is to set reminders/alerts for yourself so that you actually stick to each task.
It will take a little getting used to, but trust me when I say… It’s a game-changer!
#4 Staying Hydrated & Nourishing Your Body
When things are crazy busy, it can be so easy to fall into the “convenience” trap. For me, that means ordering Uber Eats or Skip The Dishes for a week straight. Sometimes that even looks like forgetting to hydrate or stop for lunch!
There’s a saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup” and it couldn’t be truer! When you neglect taking care of your body in even the simplest ways, you will find yourself struggling to collect your thoughts and feel like you aren’t ever fully yourself throughout the day.
Socialista Tip: Grab yourself a cute tumbler and carve some time out to prep your meals for the week! I don’t know what it is, but I find that I drink so much more water when I have a clear tumbler and a straw. Maybe it’s the psychology behind seeing it, I have no idea. But trust me when I say IT WORKS!
#5 Take Time For Yourself
Even if it’s just 30 minutes to do your makeup in the morning or a little bubble bath with your favourite essential oils at night. Take the time to do the things you love and leave you feeling good about yourself.
If you find yourself feeling like you don’t know who you are because work has just taken over your entire life, I have a tip for you! Create a Pinterest board and look for things that make you excited. What images are you drawn towards? Maybe it’s photos of nail inspo or recipes. Whatever you find yourself pinning & saving to your boards are most likely things you are passionate about in some way, shape, or form. Take some time to romanticize your life with those things and see what makes your cup feel full, then do more of it!
When it comes to being a busy CEO, time is of the essence and I get it… we only have 24 hours in a day. But here’s the thing, YOU need to come first. If you aren’t filling up your cup, nobody else will. To be the best CEO you can be, you have to put yourself first. Trust me when I say, your business will thank you later.
What are some lifestyle hacks you have for other busy CEOs? Let us know in the comments below!
To stay connected with Brittney, make sure you follow @socialsandstilettos and @brittneymegann on Instagram. To learn more about how you can elevate your business and build an iconic brand, head over to www.socialsandstilettos.com.