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At GfK, we are dedicated to nurturing a culture of innovation and excellence for our employees to achieve career success and fulfillment. But career success can never come at the expense of one’s own well-being and at GfK, we prioritize this by encouraging a healthy balance. This is one of the reasons why we held panel sessions on International Women's Day for colleagues to share tips and experiences highlighting the importance of self-care in our daily lives.
As we often hear during airline safety demonstrations, we must first secure our own oxygen mask before assisting others in case of an emergency. The same principle applies to our everyday lives, where we play multiple roles as leaders, mentors, peers, parents, siblings, and more. To effectively fulfill these roles, we must prioritize our own well-being.
The 8+8+8 rule may be the key to achieving a healthy balance between work, self-care, and social commitments. This strategy is specifically designed to optimize overall health and happiness by encouraging individuals to prioritize their time. Essentially, it involves dedicating eight hours each day to work, eight hours to leisure activities, family, friends, health, and hobbies, and eight hours to sleep. By adopting this approach, individuals can effectively pursue personal goals while maintaining a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
With this in mind, here are four ways in which this approach can help you achieve your professional goals while also promoting personal health and fulfillment.
Taking care of our personal lives to bolster career success
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for our overall well-being and performance, both at work and in our personal lives. In order to achieve this balance, it is important to leverage any flexibility that your job offers. By doing so, you can create space for personal activities, which are critical for recharging and rejuvenating on a daily basis, not just during occasional vacations.
It's equally important to recognize the impact that personal well-being can have on our work. If something is affecting your health or the well-being of loved ones, it can be difficult to focus on work and perform at your best. Therefore, it's crucial to take care of personal matters before turning your attention to work-related tasks.
Seeking out opportunities for growth and development
Taking an active role in your career development and seeking out opportunities for growth and learning can significantly accelerate your professional trajectory and boost your self-confidence. At GfK, we foster a culture where managers are expected to support the development of their team members and where employees are encouraged to play an active role in their development. By proactively initiating conversations about your individual development goals, you not only demonstrate your eagerness to learn and progress but also drive the timing of your development. One way to get started is by seeking mentorship from experienced colleagues who can provide valuable insights and perspectives to aid in your career advancement.
Don't shy away from taking on new challenges and volunteering for projects that align with your interests and challenge you. Continuously learning and expanding your skillset is essential to remaining engaged and relevant in your field. As debilitating as imposter syndrome can be, try your best to step out of your comfort zone and pursue new opportunities. Embrace the discomfort of trying new things, as it is often the most effective way to develop new skills and boost career success.
Networking: don’t be afraid to ask for help
Fear of being seen as bothersome or wasting other people's time can often prevent individuals from seeking help or asking questions from their colleagues. However, these emotions are often unfounded, and it is crucial to understand that seeking help or asking questions is acceptable. Building a professional network is an effective way to obtain support, particularly during uncertain times, and to receive constructive feedback on your work.
It is essential to invest time and effort into cultivating your network as these connections can help you develop personally and professionally. A network consisting of colleagues from different departments and areas of your business can provide diverse perspectives and skill sets.
To establish a robust professional network, it is vital to make an effort to get to know people in your organization. This can involve participating in company-wide events, joining committees or groups, and reaching out to colleagues outside of your immediate team. The possibilities are endless when you ask the person you meet with to recommend the next person with whom you should connect. Building and maintaining relationships with your professional network can be beneficial to your career growth and provide invaluable support and guidance along the way.
Creating fair and healthy boundaries
Implementing these strategies can be challenging, especially for those who have demanding schedules filled with back-to-back meetings and looming deadlines. However, taking small breaks has been shown to increase productivity. To make time for these breaks, it is essential to set healthy boundaries and speak up for your needs.
One way to ensure that you prioritize your well-being is by blocking out time in your calendar for self-care breaks. These breaks provide an opportunity for you to relax and recharge and can be as simple as taking a walk outside, attending a yoga class, or working on a personal project that brings you joy.
Protecting your time is crucial for maintaining your well-being and achieving your goals. So, don't hesitate to set boundaries and make time for yourself.
Visit our diversity page to learn about our commitment to promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity. It's a great resource for information on our initiatives, policies, and programs. We believe that promoting diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but that when everyone brings their best, authentic selves to work, we achieve better business results together.
