Habits I Wish I Kept (or Started) While Still in Corporate
Why your calendar habits and Slack etiquette matter more than you think.
After working in the same organization for six years, I often look back on all the different people I was throughout my time there.
I was once the employee who brought her gym bag to work. I was the employee that was training for a half marathon. I was the employee that was available nights and weekends. I was the employee.
I think it’s safe to say we all have these moments in our work journey - sometimes we lose sight of what’s important to us (unfortunately) and get comfortable running over our boundaries and putting the company first. We lose sight of who we are and what we want, and fall back on the most consistent thing we have going for us - our job.
If that’s you, well, read on. Even though I’m not currently in a corporate position, I am still trying to build these routines and habits back up.
Eating Lunch
This might seem like a no-brainer… but the last 2 years on the job I didn’t make eating lunch a priority. The last 6 months of my time at Virgin I did end up putting a lunch block from 1230-130, because if it wasn’t on the calendar, it didn’t exist, and I didn’t have to do it.
The thing about eating lunch is that it just got later and later. One day I was having lunch at 12 and then I was working through lunch. Or when I finally got out of my last meeting, it was 3:30, and because I didn’t fuel myself earlier, my gym plans after work also became shot. I would ask myself, “How could I workout on an empty stomach? I’ll just go later,” but then never did.
Eating lunch at a consistent time has many benefits whether you’re in corporate or not. Consistency is everything. Training my body to eat at the times that work best for me is something I’m still learning.
I want to also note that in the recent World Happiness Report, we learn that the actual act of sharing meals “proves to be an exceptionally strong indicator of subjective wellbeing- on par with income and unemployment.” It’s reported that Americans are spending more and more time dining alone which is not surprising to me at all.
Basically - if skip your meals, or continue to eat alone for the majority of your meals, you’re missing out on a key component of wellbeing - and that is social connectedness. Try your best to keep lunch as part of your day and go drag your work bestie with you!
Keeping a Fitness Routine
As you can tell from above, I would use the excuse of not eating lunch that day to not exercise. And I LOVE exercise!!
In 2019, I was heavily training in martial arts; in 2022/2023 I was training for a half marathon; 2025.. I am figure skating! Whether you’re playing pickleball or lifting, the gains won’t come if you are not fueling properly.
While my fitness regime started off strong in 2019, over time it became less and less of a priority, and I saw the difference (and not just physically). If you don’t like going to a physical gym, you have to find “your thing.” The thing that’s going to excite you to leave work and commit to that activity xx times a week.
When I trained in martial arts, or even when I figure skate, there is just something about stepping onto the mat/rink that makes me forget about what’s on the outside, or the problem I was thinking about just before coming on. This is called FLOW. I have found activities over the years that make me lose track of time and space.
While I still don’t have a consistent regime, I am skating twice a week, walking, and sometimes lifting. So far, that is working for me because I am committed to one thing everyday: MOVEMENT.
Task Switching & Time Batching
This is actually a habit I do not wish I kept or picked up from corporate, but it was also one of those things I didn’t really have a name for until after I left Virgin. Now that I essentially manage myself and my own tasks, I’ve found that I task switch a LOT.
Task switching is the process of shifting our focus from one tasks to another, and back again. This ultimately leads to something called a “switch cost” in which our levels of productivity and focus are basically shot to hell!
I would do this so much on the job (and my 50 open tabs were evidence of this). I’ve realized over the last few months that I am still doing this with my business tasks! I’ll be working on one thing, and then realize I “have to” do another. I’ll then leave my current task, and go start that other thing. This leaves me with many incomplete tasks over time that I struggle to actually get back to.
A way that I’ve been trying to experiment lately is by task batching. This is the grouping of similar tasks that can increase focus and efficiency. You do have to group the tasks, and then set a specific time to complete them whether it’s every day or a particular day of the week. For instance, setting aside days and times to complete podcast work vs business development tasks has proved beneficial for me over time.
Having a Morning Routine
I’m going to say it, but I have not had a consistent morning routine is a long time. But that is okay. I don’t think we all need a morning routine, but what I wish I kept doing before logging was keeping some sort of time for ME.
Whether it’s to exercise, or just literally do anything else other than work, having the morning be just for me makes all the difference. Once you start your workday, it can be difficult to find more of those moments throughout.
You don’t have to wake up super early (I am not part of the 5am club)! But similar to having a commitment of “movement” everyday, the best habit of all was incorporating a morning moment for ME. Before I started taking care of my team, what am I doing for ME?
Routines look different for everybody. Maybe it’s just 15 minutes that you’re washing up and stretching. Or maybe you need an hour to have a coffee, meditate or pray, or go for a walk. Literally it can be anything!
Create Your Systems
As an ex-corporate middle manager, managing the self before managing others is so over looked, and I have BEEN THERE. Which is why I’m piloting a new offer where we take your non-existent strategy and actually create a leadership operating system that serves YOU FIRST, and THEN those around you.
I work with middle managers (especially women) who feel caught between doing their own work and developing their teams. Together, we build the systems and skills that transform overwhelming departments into high-performing, self-directed teams.
I know many of you are struggling with the madness that is your systems. If you’re ready to put an end to how you’ve been showing up for YOU, or for your TEAM, let’s chat.
-Aziza