Setting yourself up for long term success

Making the adjustment into full-time work can be a bit of a challenge for those of us who are used to the flexible uni lifestyle.

Sleep-ins or afternoons off to take a power nap, do some exercise, or have a coffee date with a friend, are foregone for alarm wake-ups and time scheduled lunch breaks.

But with our studies almost over (!) the real world calls and this PR Internship unit provides a practise for what it will be like working full time. We can use this time to put in place a healthy routine that will set us up for long term success.

Here are my top 5 strategies for a healthy routine:

• Get up at the same time every day (set your body clock). This will get you into a momentum especially needed on those mornings when it's hard to leave your bed. Whether it's at 6am to fit in a 45 minute sweat session before work, or 7am to make a delicious breakfast, make sure you allow yourself ample time to get ready - your morning can dictate your attitude for the whole day.
• Take regular breaks – I think we have all heard the importance of this. Getting in the habit of taking regular breaks will help you in the long run. Days when the work is slow, or those frantic days when you have an inbox full of things to get through, taking regular breaks for a walk, stretch or snack will help to refresh and reset you throughout the day.
• Food – eat well. Simple right? This is another cliché ‘healthy habit’, but oh so true. Have you ever felt so tired after lunch that you want to take a nap? Imagine feeling like this every afternoon for 20 years, especially when you have to present to a client or team which is likely to happen many times throughout our careers. Figure out what foods make you feel light, give you energy and feeling good. Hint: They will likely be the most natural types of foods. 

• Clear your head at the end of the day. Doesn’t have to be fancy – a short walk outside, a 15 minute stretch in the lounge room whilst listening to your favourite music, a jump in the ocean. Clearing your head at the end of the day is like emptying your ‘Trash’ bin on your Mac - make room for a fresh tomorrow. If the day was stressful, get rid of it so you don’t carry it over into tomorrow. 

• Sleep - so underrated. Get enough sleep so that you can perform at your best. There is nothing worse than working on a task/project when you’ve decided to not go to bed at a decent hour the night before. Result - feeling wired from all the coffee you’ve had to ingest to stay awake. Take care of yourself and get some quality rest.                                                                                                                                                            

During our careers there will be daunting meetings, stressful days, heavy workloads and tiring times, but having a healthy system in place will keep us on track to perform well and achieve our career goals. 

Good luck !

Alyce