Finding talent and speed to transform a credit-card company into a digital native

A successful digital transformation means a lot more than new technology. You need to go all in, for the long haul.

In our fast-paced world, there is a constant struggle to always be better at something, to do better at work and be successful. The average lifestyle has been designed to get us to work, and by default, everyone tries to work harder because we believe it is a sacrifice for success. However, the internal quest to always push harder might eventually take a toll on your health and your overall productivity. 

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that 1 in every 8 employees in the OECD works 50 hours or more per week, while they spend 11 to 15 hours on leisure and personal care. 

Pursuing your career (increasing your standard of living) doesn't have to be so strict that you barely have time to relax or increase your standard of life. Working overtime could lead to high levels of stress, long-term health problems and an inability to think clearly, and it can affect your relationship with friends and family. 

A great way to avoid these complications and still be successful at what you do is to create a work-life balance where you are able to manage your work and life effectively in general. In achieving this balance, consider the four elements below.

1. Make room for fitness.

A poor work-life balance not only affects your psychological health and relationships with others, but it affects your physical health too. Make physical and mental health a priority, giving yourself the care that you deserve to avoid complications that arise from poor health management. 

A healthy lifestyle makes you a better employee and can improve your productivity, as you are likely to function better because you are in good health. When you skip meals and workout routines, sleep less and develop a sedentary lifestyle because you're spending more time behind your desk, all of these factors add up and take a toll on your health. 

Regular exercise, such as brisk walking, yoga, swimming and cycling, benefits men and women of all ages, and physical ability improves your work life. It increases blood flow to your brain, which pumps oxygen to your brain cells and provides it with the adequate glucose for your brain to function. A chemical known as the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is also known to help improve brain cell growth and learning. Further, the other effects of physical exercise – it boosts energy, lowers stress levels and improves your mood – will help you function better at work. 

2. Manage your time more effectively.

Time management helps you to work more effectively while still carving out time for yourself and other things you want to accomplish in your personal life. Closely examine the areas where you aren't making the most of your time. List the time-wasters in your life, and then commit to reducing the time you spend on these frivolities. Another tip is to break up your work hours so you can sneak in a few breaks, which will help you function more effectively when you turn your attention back to work. 

Another great way to manage your time well is by keeping your private time private. You shouldn't get so busy with work that you hardly have the time to bond with others. Schedule time with yourself or with your friends. Don't let work-related activities spill over into your private time. Turn off your phone during your private time to avoid distractions.

3. Connect with customers using emotional marketing.

Emotional marketing helps you connect with your audience through emotions like happiness, sadness, fear or anger to get them to interact with your business. According to research from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, ads containing emotional appeals outperformed advertising that used rational persuasion.  

By implementing the right emotional marketing strategy in your marketing campaigns, you can boost sales but attract new customers and retain existing ones.

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4. Get in the habit of saying no.

According to authors James and Claudia Altucher, one word can bring health, abundance and happiness, and that word is no. Not everyone has mastered the art of saying no, however. Many people would rather say yes to commitments they know aren't good for them in the long run because they are afraid of hurting the other person's feelings. Remember, it's not your duty to make others happy. Your health and overall productivity is at stake, and you must learn to say no when necessary.