[ Next Gen Women Blog ]

With a long weekend around the corner, I encourage you to take this time to replenish!

One of the most overlooked keys to succeeding on the job is ensuring that you have a fulfilling life outside of work. Cultivating a full life outside of your work will sustain you, allow you to come back to work refreshed, and many times it will make you even more effective professionally.

When interviewing women for my book, Jamie McCourt, former president of the LA Dodgers shared with me, "I try to take part in things that help me to feel grounded. I make time to swim every day, which is something I do just for me. I also really love to cook and do that out of necessity and for enjoyment."

The more aware you are of both your strengths and opportunities for improvement, the more you can leverage your gifts and strengthen your weak points.  What are some ways that you can develop yourself?  Some activities that can help you stay buoyant and develop personally include:

Feed Your Aspirations: Read biographies or take in other inspirational media about people whom you aspire to be like.

Be Mindful: Being mindful is about focusing on your effects on others, being present and living in the now, and letting go of what you cannot control.

Affirmation: Reading affirmative books and literature or engaging in your own self-affirming exercises, such as journaling, are wonderful ways to be reflective and boost your confidence.

Fun: Good, old-fashioned fun, the kind that makes you laugh and feel joyful, is a great way to nurture yourself. Most of all, it helps you take things more lightly, get needed perspective, and let go of stress.

Relaxation: Whether through body massage, breathing work, meditation, or practices such as yoga, look for activities that relax and center you.

Hobbies: Investing in activities that feed your passion and interest will only serve to nourish you personally and make you a more interesting, well-rounded person at work. Whether it's gourmet cooking, scrapbooking, or writing, give it your energy and you will see gains in professional areas of your life as well.

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