“Get quiet to access your wisdom.” This was just one of the inspirational tips in a 60- minute talk packed with best practices and empowering suggestions for audience members who tuned in Tuesday, October 17 for “Become the CEO of Your Whole Life: Life Design for Women Who Do Too Much.”
MCB’s fall signature event featured Dr. Eileen O’Grady, a nurse practitioner, wellness coach, author and sought-after speaker on the topic of wellness and the link between stress and chronic illness. She took the audience through numerous recommended practices, which she calls “super powers,” that are designed to help each of us live the life we want to live. She emphatically said, “Don’t accept a life you don’t want.”
When discussing navigating stress in the workplace, Dr. O’Grady discussed traits of successful CEOs – traits she recommends for our everyday lives. These include limiting the “digital deluge” – avoiding too much time sending and answering emails every day. She actually knows CEOs who don’t have email addresses, and although that may not be the most practical approach for everyone, it begs the question of how much time is really necessary for email. Other traits from successful CEOs that we can all adopt into our own lives include prioritizing sleep and intentionally spending time NOT working – she recommends at least six hours a day away from work responsibilities.
Dr. O’Grady also provided some tips to avoid getting sucked into too many tasks and commitments that may impede productivity. She says it’s ok to “say no to the person, but yes to the relationship.” For example, if a colleague is asking for numerous meetings that may be distracting and draining, limit multiple meetings, but ensure you have the information you need to accomplish your commitments, while ensuring your colleague knows you are dedicated to the task and available for collaboration as needed. This “super power” can also be applied to our personal relationships.
So many women get sucked into people pleasing at work and outside of work. Dr. O’Grady emphasized that we have the power to change this, something many people, especially women, don’t always realize. Emphasizing that this destructive behavior can be changed, she said: “People pleasing is not your shoe size.”
Dr. O’Grady’s tips included an emphasis on taking time away from our day-to-day responsibilities. One thing she has seen in the workplace in recent years is people are not taking time off as much as they should. She encouraged everyone to “take your PTO, take the time away, even away from your loved ones,” in order to reset, think about priorities, and plan for changes you want to make for yourself. She added, “You get to design your own life.”
Learn more about Dr. Eileen O’Grady and her practice here: https://www.eileenogrady.net
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