On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your health?

And how about your career health?

Most of us separate the two - our physical wellbeing and our professional success - when in reality, they are deeply connected. You can’t think clearly, lead effectively, or grow with confidence if you’re running on empty.

I’ve always been fascinated by health and how it impacts the way we show up, not just in life, but at work too. Over the years, I’ve read countless books on the topic, tried different approaches, and learned that good health doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s not about strict routines or all-or-nothing thinking. It’s about small, sustainable habits that give you more energy, focus, and balance every day.

Between work, family, and the endless notifications that compete for our attention, it’s easy to slip into autopilot - reacting to each day rather than intentionally creating it. But just like success in your career, success in your health doesn’t happen by chance. It happens by design.

That's where habits come in.

Your brain is built for efficiency. It loves patterns, shortcuts, and repetition. Think about how many things you do automatically each day - from brushing your teeth to making your morning coffee. These aren’t decisions any more, they are embedded behaviours.

And the beauty is, you can use that same wiring to your advantage.

I often talk about something called habit stacking - pairing a new habit with one that’s already established, so your brain links them together. It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to create lasting change.

For example:

• While waiting for the kettle to boil in the morning, fill a glass of water and drink it.
• After your daily meeting, step outside for a 5-minute walk.
• Before opening your laptop, take three slow, deep breaths to reset your focus.

At the start of this year, I set myself a handful of healthy habits to focus on. Here are two of my favourites: to get at least 8 hours sleep a night (my own personal version of 9 - 5), and to drink a pint of water when I wake up each morning. It has been transformational. Both fuel my brain, one to cleanse it after a long day to prepare for the next, and the other fuels it at the start of the day.

The result?

I am more consistent, focussed and high-performing that I have ever been. If I miss a few hours sleep due to travel or general life, or my daily glass of water, I absolutely feel it and ensure I get back into routine as soon as possible. 

Each small action might seem insignificant on its own, but over time they compound, improving not just your health, but your energy, resilience, and clarity.

When you have more energy, you make better decisions. You communicate with more presence. You handle challenges with more patience.

And that’s what creates a healthy career - not endless productivity, but balance and consistency.

If you want to get started, here’s a simple exercise:

1. Write down five healthy habits you’d like to have - Be intentional, make them small and absolutely achievable. You can build bigger ones later, but start small to maximise success. Walking 5000 steps, drinking a glass of water when you wake up, touch your toes when you get out of bed, no social media before 10am, the list is literally endless. 

2. Identify one existing routine you could attach each to - This is the habit stacking part where you build the routine to ensure they stick. Again choose something you do every day, you brush your teeth, have a shower, eat lunch, before bed... you get the point. Find the right time for your new healthy habit. 

3. Focus on one at a time until it feels automatic - At first you will need to think of your new task every time before it becomes a habit, but before long it will be part of your normal routine. To help at the start, stick a note somewhere obvious to remind you. 

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight, but the most important thing it to just start!

Remember, your career and your health aren’t competing priorities. When you take care of yourself, everything else becomes easier to manage.

If you’d like some inspiration, you can download my free Healthy Habits Worksheet on my resources page - a simple 30-day tracker to help you start building habits that stick.

Always with love,

Elsa x