Dr. Helene D. Gayle, CEO, McKinsey Social Initiative
“I have no one thing I do to relax since I think we need to use mind, body, and spirit in an integrated way to relax. So for my mind, I try to give it a break from work and read non-work related novels or nonfiction. I enjoy movies on a regular basis and listening to live music.
For my body, I exercise regularly in the morning before work, doing a combination of aerobic (treadmill or running outside) and weight/resistance training. For my spirit, I take time once or twice during the day (optimally in the early morning) to be still and reflective.
I like to start the day off with an inspirational reading–a positive outlook–and be able to return to that reading in my mind throughout the day. ”
Why she thinks it’s important that professional women make it a priority to wind down and take some time out:Â “I sometimes think we should add to “work hard, play hard”–relax hard–to signify that we should be as deliberate about relaxing as we are about the other aspects of our life.”
Keisha Smith-Jeremie, CHRO, News Corp.
“My absolute favorite leisure activity is reading novels. There is no more peaceful activity for me than to be perched in a hammock near the ocean with a nightstand stocked with great reads. This past Christmas holiday, I “gifted” myself time and space to read one book each day. The last two months of the year were particularly stressful, and so to relieve some of that stress, I started collecting book recommendations from friends and the top 10 lists in my favorite magazines. Each evening I would come home to a new book in the mail, and just the anticipation of diving into those books did wonders for my soul.”
What made her get into this activity:Â “I’ve been an avid reader since I was a very young kid. My mom often tells the story that she would take me to the bookstore and invariably, by the time we reached the register, I would proudly announce that I had already finished reading one of the books. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been relying on books to take me to wondrous places, to broaden my perspective, to deepen my knowledge, and to slow the pace of my sometimes overactive mind.”
Why she thinks it’s important that professional women make it a priority to wind down and take some time out:Â “A great deal of responsibility falls on the shoulders of any senior executive. We are expected to show up ready to solve problems, articulate vision, mitigate risk, and dispense sage wisdom, all before lunch. We do ourselves and our teams a disservice if we show up to these important jobs without the fuel to go the distance. Nurturing your body and your mind is absolutely essential if you intend to play the long-game at the top of the house.”
Lisa Opoku, Global COO, Technology Division and Strategists, Goldman Sachs
(Lisa Opoku, one of Black Enterprise’s “Most Powerful Women in Business.†Photo Credit: Goldman Sachs)
“When I am not at work I love to spend my time with my family and my charity. My kids, parents, and siblings are my best friends. I make it a priority to get home every evening and spend time with my kids. They have great personalities and they put everything into perspective.
I also love philanthropy. I am the chair of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS). It may sound unusual to work hard for a charity and consider that winding down but it is so rewarding to put my energy into saving the lives of disadvantaged children all over the world.”
What she gets most out of it:Â “Philanthropy or giving of your time and talent makes you grateful for all of the ways in which you are blessed. It is important that we don’t take anything for granted.”
Why she thinks it’s important that professional women make it a priority to wind down and take some time out:Â “I think professional women have many important roles to play in their families and at work. There are many times that the many roles we play in life seem to exceed 100%. We need to be very certain that we prioritize our families, ourselves, and our own happiness in the allocation of time and effort.
I believe the most important advice for working women is to recognize that you have to be comfortable delegating some things. You can’t achieve balance without it. But once you delegate, use the time and space you create for yourself and your own happiness.”