Nina K Moore wants to help others live well with anxiety. Drawing on her lived experiences with anxiety and professional work in the education sector, Nina shares her insights for anxiety management, anxiety during the pandemic, and starting meaningful conversations about mental health.
Read MoreAs a hijabi fitness professional, Nabat Sherif advocates for making fitness accessible and comfortable for Muslim women and women of colour. Read her interview to learn more about her approach to fitness coaching, emotional eating, and starting her own business.
Read MoreKeren Chen discusses how she carved her own niche in the nutrition sector and why it’s crucial that young, self-identifying women prioritize their nutrition and health.
Read MoreMegan te Boekhorst talks about her own experiences with her mental health, common misconceptions, and mental health advice for other self-identifying women.
Read MoreQuest talks candidly about her own experiences as an entrepreneur with mental health struggles, and offers lots of advice for other women entrepreneurs with or without similar challenges.
Read MoreI am a go-getter. I’ve worked two jobs simultaneously since the age of 18, paid for my post-secondary schooling out of pocket and went to four different countries in the span of a year (oh how I miss 2015). I work a lot. Having spent the last 6 years extending myself between two jobs and school, I’ve learned that focusing on your personal well-being is just as important, if not more so, than all of those things.
When I started running, it was mostly for health reasons. I was overweight, eating horribly, perpetually stressed out (thanks Ryerson!), and could barely do 2 minutes without needing to stop to catch my breath. Fast forward a year later and I can run a 10K comfortably, workout regularly, and am currently training to run a marathon next spring. In the year that I have dedicated myself to running I’ve seen myself grow in ways that I could never imagine, and to my surprise, it has improved my work life tremendously.
Get uncomfortable
When I first started running I could only run for a couple minutes at a time, but after a couple weeks I was up to about 5 minutes of continuous running, then 10, then 20 and now 5K on a daily basis. Running is hard, mentally and physically, and there are times when it makes you regret all of your life decisions. But it pushes you out of your comfort zone, and that is a quality you can apply to anything in life, including work. Just remember, the end result is only great because of the struggle that came before it.
Once you're dedicated, consistency is easy
Being able to run long distances takes a lot of cardiac ability, and that does not come easy; it’s something you have to dedicate significant time and energy to. Having two jobs and going to school made it easy for me to justify skipping a run because I was tired or had no time. But, when you truly decide to dedicate yourself to something, you make time for it, no matter what. And so, I started getting up at 5:30am every morning to go for a run. Not only did it teach me about dedication, but also how dedication and consistency go hand in hand; you can’t have one without the other. Whether it is with running or work, putting in the work every day is essential for your success.
You're forced to put yourself first
There is no shortage of studies on the importance of exercise on mental health. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce levels of stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression, in addition to improving your physical health and sleeping habits. As start out in your career, it is important to establish healthy routines early on that will last. In the past year that I’ve dedicated myself to running, I’ve noticed a change in my work habits resulting in improved productivity because I am more rested, focused, and my stress levels are at an all-time low. Running has forced me to put my mind and body first; if you can do that, everything else will become a lot easier.
It’s the purest form of happiness
I cannot express how important it is to find something you enjoy that you don’t get paid for. Whether it is volunteering at a non-profit organization, pole dancing, knitting or painting, having something that gives you genuine enjoyment really is important. When you take money out of the equation, it makes doing something so much more special because then it is truly for you.
Find something that makes you happy outside of work. I recognize how easy it is to lose yourself in the job; I myself have spent the last six years doing just that. What I’ve come to realize, however, is that work isn’t everything. Fifty years from now, when you're retired with no more work to speak of, what will you have? As Hillary Clinton proclaimed, "Don't confuse having a career with having a life."
Written by: Ashleigh H.
Erin & Natasha make up the co-founding team of the Better Life Project. They go into further detail about the project, how it fulfills them, and some advice for young professional women!
Erin is a Graphic Designer with a passion for branding, typography, illustration and, of course, the path to a better life!
Natasha is an enthusiastic educator who has dedicated her life to expediting the growth of high performers through positive psychology.
Describe what/who you're working on/for and why it's important to you
After the success of our first product, the Better Life Planner 2017, we're now working on a Student Success Planner that will launch this summer following a Kickstarter campaign for the planner. Students are at a pivotal point in their growth—mentally, emotionally, socially, etc.—so positive habit formation is key at this stage of their lives. We want to launch a Kickstarter campaign so that we can reach as many students as possible, helping transform the future generations. The job market is more competitive than it's ever been, and we want to give all students access to this tool so they can have a competitive advantage.
How does your role empower you?
Together, our business empowers us by being able to connect with our customers, receive feedback, and design our future products with real people in mind. We are touched, moved and inspired every time we hear how a Better Lifer is transforming through the use of the Better Life Planner 2017 and the Better Life Book Club.
What advice do you have to other young women looking to get involved in your field of work?
Buy our planner! LOL. In all seriousness, our advice to a young woman looking to enter the world of self-development and goal-setting: have accountability partners and surround yourself with a support system of people who care enough about you to not let
you
get in the way of achieving your goals.
Who is your biggest role model, why?
Natasha:
Oprah, because Oprah.
Erin:
Tony Robbins because he tells people how it is, and while it can come across as brutal honesty, it also comes from a place of genuinely wanting people to transform their lives.
What book do you recommend every young professional should read?
Every book teaches you something, so instead of settling for just one,
and transform with us! Search for the Better Life Book Club on Facebook to see what we've read so far.
If you could go back to your 16 year old self, what would you say?
Natasha:
"Caring for and empowering people will get you much further than any to-do list can take you."
Erin:
"You have no idea what you're capable of until you take action!"
Why do you think groups like YWiB are important?
Groups like YWiB are important so that women can have access to an empowering support system of other women. It's a foundation of collaboration, inspiration and accountability so that women can be their best selves.
What can our readers do to help you?
Stay tuned for our Kickstarter campaign coming
May 1st
, and back us however you can and share us with your friends and family!
Facebook:
Instagram & Twitter: @blifeproject
Young Women in Business is a community for emerging female leaders and young professionals who want to create their own success.
We believe every woman and young professional stepping into the workforce or growing in their career should be well equipped with the proper set of tools and knowledge to reach their fullest personal and professional potential.
We provide young women and professionals with events, programs and an engaged network of ambitious women, to help them become successful in their careers, take on new challenges and develop skills.
