Balancing Work and Wellness

I hope you’re well. 

The majority of emails I send and receive these days begin with this phrase, or one with a similar sentiment. I always thought it was just a nice thing to say, but now, I say it with real sincerity. I do hope you’re well. In the past year we’ve probably all become a bit too familiar with not really knowing how we feel and everything’s just a bit “meh”. It’s easy to get into a rut but it’s so important that we do what we can to keep ourselves well.

Despite finding it relatively easy to keep my physical wellbeing in check, I’m going to be completely honest and say, until lockdown, I didn’t have a good understanding of mental wellbeing or how I could properly look after my own. Acknowledging that it was absolutely okay for me to not know or understand how I was feeling sometimes was a real turning point. The next challenge was figuring out what to do in those times. Instead of wallowing in my thoughts, I started writing them down. I made a list of everything I enjoyed doing in my spare time and when I needed a little motivation, I would go and do something on the list. So, I’ll get to the point and give you a little insight into what I do to overcome the “meh” to make sure I’m doing okay.

 I love cooking and baking, I love making a mess in the kitchen (I don’t really trust tidy cooks), and of course, I love being head of the taste testing team! It’s such an easy way for me to unwind and there’s nothing better than sharing whatever I’ve whipped up with my family. Experimenting with recipes or just working on my new flavour combinations is a great creative outlet. I am mindful of eating good food and tend to eat quite healthily which brings lots of benefits like maintaining energy levels and helping to keep my skin clear (good for the pics ya know!).


Establishing a routine has really helped to provide some level of “normality”. I started with small things like getting up at the same time every morning and I’ve built in new habits including writing notes throughout the day as little reminders to myself; It could be a to do list or a positive affirmation or just some brain junk. I got this idea from a few books I’ve been reading recently that focus on the realities of life and positivity that inspire me to grow as a person. Vex King’s Good Vibes Good Life is a good shout! Some of the best tips I’ve learned from this and other books are, to be grateful for what I’ve got, surround myself with good people and stop putting such high value on other people’s opinions. “Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you” (Michelle Obama). 

I’ve always been an active and sporty person, so keeping fit and healthy continues to be a priority. During lockdown, I soon realised how important exercise was for my mental health too. I no longer consider going out for a walk or a run as a workout, it’s an adventure. I love it. Although I must admit, I can get a bit competitive with myself and like to see if I can beat my previous time or keep running for another 5 minutes. I like to do proper workouts at home too and have a schedule so that I can get a 30-minute session in most days of the week. Get those endorphins flowing! 

I hope you enjoyed the read and I (really do) hope you’re well. 



Lydia is an Application Support Consultant at PlotBox. 

Lydia joined the team in 2019 and spent a year in our Austin office. After a busy day supporting our customers, she likes to get outdoors and spend time with her family.