“We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living.”

– Thich Nhat Hanh

Wellness Tip:

Maximize Your Vacation

How do you feel when you return from vacation? Rested and ready, or filled with that oh-no-here-we-go-again kind of panic?

Going on a holiday is great, but there are ways to maximize the mental health benefits to ensure you come back stronger. Here are a few:

• Relish the planning process. Anticipation alone can boost well-being. 
• Be social. If vacationing with others, plan collaboratively! 🍷

• Slow down. Post-trip happiness is linked to how relaxed you get while away.
• Switch off. Tech-free time is happier time.

How do you like to relax and recharge while on vacation?

Productivity Tip:

Move While You Meet

Walking meetings are awesome. As well as getting you active, research shows they can boost productivity, make you more creative, and reduce mental fatigue.🚶🏽🙌

You can have in-person walking meetings (keep the group small) or virtual ones. Not all meetings are suitable, though. Try meetings where you’re mostly muted and listening, you don’t have to share your screen, and/or you can use voice instead of video. 

Ready to give it a shot? Put on your walking shoes and remember to let your colleagues know ahead of time. How do you feel about meetings on the move?

Routine Breakdown

Paige Arnof-Fenn, Founder & CEO of Mavens & Moguls

Marketing firm founder Paige Arnof-Fenn says her routine has changed since the pandemic. “I think I’m more productive and efficient now—a silver lining in the crisis!” She:

• Sleeps about 10 hours a night (versus 5 hours before!).
• Does a morning workout to get her day off to a strong start.
• Showers, eats breakfast, and starts work. “By being organized and setting my schedule in advance I find I am actually sleeping more, eating healthier and getting more done in fewer hours.”

Why it works:

• Sleep is all the good things! Adults need at least 7 hours per night.
• Morning exercise sets us up for a more focused day.
• Scheduling helps us decide what to prioritize, so we know what tasks to work on even when interrupted. That’s why using a planner (like Panda Planner) makes hitting your goals so much easier.

“When your day starts strong you build momentum,” says Paige. Her advice? “Do hard tasks first to get them out of the way, delegate what you can, and only touch each email once for best results. Don’t let others distract you or hijack your schedule.”