There is no denying 2021 was a gruelling year for the nation’s small business owners. Many found their mental health and wellbeing impacted by the pandemic. As 2022 dawns, we asked seven successful business leaders their top tips for achieving work-life balance in the year ahead.
Matej Varhalik, founder and CEO – SpeedFit
What are your top tips for finding balance in business and life in 2022?
Have a system/routine. I have a weekly routine with ‘my time’ (SpeedFit session, gym, running, reading), time with my family and children (weekend activities with children and time with my wife Zuzana), and I have a work to-do list which I need to get done by the end of the week/month or quarter. This all helps to keep me in check and knowing I have all areas covered.
What did you start doing in 2021 that you will continue doing in 2022?
Stopped: watching TV during the week and snacking/drinking after 8pm on weekdays.
Started:
- Reading every day for at least 30 minutes.
- Sleeping for at least eight hours. I used to be on 6-7 hours for the last seven years so I’m very happy about that.
- For the last three months I went back to intermittent fasting, where I have stopped eating breakfast and snacking after 8pm so my body has more time to recover and thus more energy, and it works for me very well. I did this a few years ago and just rediscovered the benefits again.
- I joined the gym and found a new track to run since we moved to a new house, and that again helped me to be on top of my physical and mental goals.
- I am always looking for ways to improve my performance, so last year I started having ice baths (we have a chest freezer in the garage with ice-cold temperatures). I also started wearing blue light glasses at night – they help me to sleep better and feel more rested than ever before.
- I started to listening to podcasts and YouTube videos on various topics whilst I am driving, instead of listening to the radio – usually self improvement, motivation, investing and stock markets.
Jill Berry, CEO and co-founder – Adatree
2021 Fintech Awards Female Fintech Leader of the Year
What are your top tips for finding balance in business and life in 2022?
I uninstalled a whole lot of apps, social media ones especially, and I got really vigilant with my notification settings. I spent hours changing everything because content switching is the biggest productivity killer. I have scheduled do not disturb times and literally put my phone in the other room or leave it at home when I go on walks. That way I’m always present when I’m around my friends or partner.
What did you start doing in 2021 that you will continue doing in 2022?
Hiring more people instead of spreading myself too thin.
Maria Halasz, CEO & Managing Director – Cellmid
What are your top tips for finding balance in business and life in 2022?
If there was one thing we have learned during the pandemic it’s that time is precious; time with family, friends and loved ones. I am planning to make the most of that in 2022, focusing on quality not quantity given that we all have a limited amount of it (time).
What did you start doing in 2021 that you will continue doing in 2022?
- Prioritise time with friends and family. It has been just too easy to work through the weekend in the past, especially if there was travel involved. As there was no time spent on the road last year I was able to nurture my friendships.
- Learn at least one new skill. In 2020 it was digital marketing, this year it was leadership training. Although becoming a better leader is a neverending conquest.
- Continue on Strava. I know I’m a late arrival but have been resisting as I have 16 years of running data on the rival NikeRun app. At the moment I’m running with both, as they give you different data sets.
- Started using an Oura ring to assist with my sleep. Both the quality and quantity of my sleep improved significantly over the year and I expect to continue with my new 3rd generation ring in 2022.
Jonathan Moody, CEO and founder – Physio Inq
What are your top tips for finding balance in business and life in 2022?
Continue to enjoy the little things – have breakfast with family, play with the kids after work, limit your phone use, read more books, be actually present with your family when you’re with them and not half focused.
What did you start doing in 2021 that you will continue doing in 2022?
I just recently put a limit on my app use. It dropped my screen time by 50 per cent! I have also started taking meetings whilst walking which has been a game changer, so now I am walking 8-10km every day in addition to my daily run.
Ben Lipschitz, Managing Director and co-founder – FoodbyUs
What are your top tips for finding balance in business and life in 2022?
There’s so much that is out of our control, always plan as best you can but also accept some things aren’t predictable and you have to take things a day at a time.
What did you start doing in 2021 that you will continue doing in 2022?
Cooking all sorts of new things!
Jeanette Cheah, CEO and co-founder – HEX
What are your top tips for finding balance in business and life in 2022?
I like to take my lead from our Gen-Z students who are all about the ‘work-life blend’ model, where both work and life happen literally 24/7. So, I take my focus off the where, when and how, and put more focus on outcomes. Higher accountability to outcomes means I can have a more flexible work week overall.
What did you start doing in 2021 that you will continue doing in 2022?
In 2022, I will continue actively scheduling in time for those not physically around me and making sure to reach out to friends and long-lost contacts overseas. In this remote world where travel is constantly being restricted, we can no longer rely on people travelling to see us or waiting until we are in the same country as friends to catch up.
I think it is important to make sure to be consistently increasing global and remote networks deliberately. It’s amazing what a quick Instagram message or emoji can do to maintain a long-distance professional relationship!
Dale Brett, CEO and cofounder – Fl0
What are your top tips for finding balance in business and life in 2022?
Create time to recharge. At the end of the day I find it important to turn my phone on silent so I can really be present with my partner. It’s not always possible in startups when things are 24/7.
What did you start doing in 2021 that you will continue doing in 2022?
Having trained in Muay Thai and Krav Maga for many years, I’ve decided to start training in Jiu Jitsu, which I love! Being a white belt again is certainly humbling, but I love the mastery aspect and progressing within the sport.
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