5 Ways to Boost Your Personal Brand

By Janet Barclay.

You’ve worked hard to get to where you are. Money’s flowing in, your family is well taken care of and you have the material things you need.

This is not an uncommon scenario, but there’s one major problem. Success is often attained at the expense of one’s personal well-being. But you don’t have to travel down this dangerous road. Instead, here are some simple actions you can take to invest in yourself and your personal brand so your professional life will continue to flourish:

1. Aim for Work-Life Balance

In Canada, many live to work instead of working to live. While money is a great motivator, it’s important to have the time to spend it. If you’re a workaholic but have a family at home, consider allocating a few hours each week to spend with them. It could be something as simple as a night out at your favorite restaurant, a trip to the park, movies or a family game night.

2. Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

While dieting fads may seem to work in the short-term, don’t ditch the strict eating and workout regimens once you achieve your desired look. Many who do this end up gaining back the weight they lost. Instead of seeking quick fixes, adapt a healthier lifestyle by incorporating small changes to your exercise and dietary habits over time. Diving feet first into a strenuous workout plan or going on a crash diet is a recipe for failure, but starting small and stepping it up over time will yield long-term success.

3. Don’t Ignore Routine Doctor Visits

It’s easy to underestimate the significance of yearly physicals if you’re feeling just fine. But through blood work, EKGs and other routine labs your doctor might request during the visit, bigger issues could turn up. Be preventive about your health.

4. Get Your ZZZs

Do you toss and turn throughout the night? Getting eight hours of uninterrupted sleep is critical to your health and your success, since sleep deprivation is linked to a multitude of health risks.

If there’s an issue weighing heavily on your mind, take steps to assess the situation and seek help from a mental health professional. Doing otherwise might cause the problem to spiral out of control and create unnecessary stress, which is related to a number of health-related issues, such as heart disease, obesity, gastrointestinal problems and in severe cases, premature death.

And if your mattress is the culprit, toss it in favor of a more comfortable option. It may cost you, but the ability to rest is priceless. Shut off your cell phone, dim the lights and eliminate any other distractions so you won’t be interrupted in the middle of the night.

5. Maintain Your Home, Vehicle and Office

You’re in your home and office nearly every day, so it’s important for it to be a comfortable place to be. Keep it picked up. Easy fixes like tossing clothes in the laundry basket when you take them off, and wiping down the counters after preparing food can make your house a tidy place to return to after work.

While it isn’t necessary to drive a luxury car, riding around in something clean and reliable is ideal. The last thing you need is to ruin your professional image by arriving late to an appointment as a result of a car trouble or a tire blowout. Maintain your car with regular car check-ups and regular tire rotations. Or if it’s been a while, replace your tires. Keep your car washed and waxed. Vacuum the inside and keep it trash-free and smelling fresh.

Bottom line: You’re a walking representation of your personal brand. If you don’t invest in yourself, who will?

Janet Barclay is a virtual assistant and web designer who provides technical and administrative support to Career Professionals of Canada.

Source: Organized Assistant