International Women's Day 2022 - CEO Jo Tongue - That work-life balance
My job isn’t a job, it’ a lifestyle, it’s 24-7. I often talk about wanting to watch “ TV for fun” or going to “ Football for fun” rather than for work, but to be honest I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have got much better over the years at trying to find some balance. I didn’t used to understand the word “balance” and this led to me being continually ill for some years.
My sister (Ruth Tongue) runs a wellness company and she has spent a lot of time trying to open my eyes to the power of a balanced life. I actually really love the gym, or running outside. I see it as treat time where I can’t answer my phone (mainly because I can’t breathe!) and I’m just moving and forgetting my to do list. However, I’ve also had to learn that sitting on the sofa is normal, and restorative and that I’m not efficient if I’m running on empty.
Sleep is the most important medicine. I learnt this after a few years of ending up in hospital from various illnesses which I think could have been stemmed a little by rest. I now have to be in bed before midnight every night and I refuse to set an alarm starting with anything before a 7am! I will never again give up sleep to fit in a gym class or a meeting. It’s counter productive, and for me ends up in disaster (i.e hospital stays!)
My family and friends make sure I don’t get too obsessive about work. For years I missed birthdays, parties, celebrations by putting work first. I’d say now there’s a balance. I prioritise work when I need to, but I also book certain weekends off when it’s a birthday or family occasion. A few weeks ago I took a day off to watch my niece in a football tournament. I had to have a little chat with myself about this being normal and why I work hard on all the other days to allow some days off...and then I had a lovely time sitting in Nandos with her and my brother after she scored a last minute winner against Arsenal! Wouldn’t have missed that for the world!
My one tip for anyone looking at improving their work-life balance is to remind yourself daily that if you don’t have balance you are actually curtailing your success at work. You can’t give to clients if you have nothing in the tank. You can’t be creative if your brain doesn’t have space to think differently. You can’t have clarity of thought if your thoughts are jumbled and your brain exhausted.
After all - football is a game, yes it’s a business, but it’s a game. Embrace the game, remember to enjoy the game, but keep some balance between that and the business.