Women must design a roadmap of wellbeing

This is essential, as highly effective women live in an unprecedented world - delicately balancing how we care for our families, our careers and our own well-being. We are often caught in the perfect storm, when our children get sick, our husbands are away for business and our workload cannot be contained to normal office hours.

It is unsurprising that we are increasingly becoming victims of diseases which are associated with high levels of stress, poor diet and insufficient physical activity. In South Africa, one in four women suffers from cardiovascular disease and approximately 56% of women are obese. Cancers, particularly breast, cervical and colorectal; lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia; and psychiatric illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, are the most common conditions that we can protect ourselves against. Unfortunately, violence and physical abuse are also substantial threats that South African women face, which are more difficult for us to find protection from.

Applying the habits

Our approach to looking after our own healthcare needs tends to be one of crisis management. Most working women prefer to 'project manage' their episodes of disease rather than embed healthy habits into their daily routines. This month is a good time to apply these habits.

1. Applying "Be Proactive"
   As consumers of care, we need to become active partners with our healthcare system. The role of our doctors must evolve from 'God' to 'Guide' and we must begin to actively purchase health, instead of treating disease. Most medical schemes offer incentives for preventative action such as screening for diabetes, high cholesterol or HIV, yet these remain largely underutilised. The origins of cancers and lifestyle diseases are born silently and creep up on us insidiously. We should all understand our personal health profiles and identify the main risks that we face, in relation to our family histories, current health status and recent biometric measures. Proactive management of these silent risk factors can avert the onset of disease and trade existing poor habits for future longevity.

2. "Begin with an end in mind"
   As we set goals in our careers, map our progress and perform regular appraisals, we need to clearly identify our own health targets, monitor how we progressively realise them and take time to reflect, when we reach a milestone, before setting another one. A clear beacon ahead always provides direction when we are faced with smaller choices. All your daily decisions should be aligned with your ultimate objective of attaining a healthy, strong, capable body.

3. "Put first things first"
   Highly effective women are commonly exceptional organisers, communicators and implementers. They do this by creating virtual and real lists, of tasks, goals, activities, events and deliverables. Unfortunately, personal health matters are usually left to dwell in an inconvenient corner of their guilty conscience. Health needs to be the first thing on your list and on every one of your lists. Successful busy women generally tackle their exercise regime, as their first task every day, or prepare their healthy meals, early in the morning, even before checking the emails that came in during the night before. Planning, organising and executing activities should include your health priorities, so that you avoid the trap of creating goals that flick on and off your radar inconsistently.

4. "Think win-win"
   The win-win philosophy is based on the paradigm that one person's success is not achieved at the expense, or exclusion, of another's. As highly effective women adapt to a healthy lifestyle, a win-win situation is created for all those who are in their sphere of influence such as colleagues and family. Empirical evidence is clear that as the fate of a woman improves, the beneficial impact extends directly to the well-being of her children. If we want to prevent the next generation from falling, we need to ensure that mothers are supported and encouraged to stay at work, but given the flexibility they need to attend to the health of themselves and their families.

5. "Seek first to understand..."
   Many highly successful women have a tendency to rush in and fix things up with good advice or decisive action, but often fail to take the time to fully deeply understand the problem first. With regards to health matters, we are blessed with the 'Internet of Everything' which is commonly the first port of call when one experiences an unfamiliar ache or pain. We need to always be sceptical when we are given information regarding our health. Question the validity of the source and the relevance of the information, seek second opinions and engage with professional bodies.

6. "Synergise"
   Valuing the differences between yourself and others is the essence of synergy. If you are able to recognise that despite the fact that you may be a leader, a driver and a key strategist in your organisation, you could greatly benefit from the experience and expertise of others, when it comes to improving your physical and mental condition. Create a support structure for yourself that is able to help you stay motivated, focused and committed. Implementing a change in your life is often far more difficult than expected - joining forces with friends or colleagues who have similar goals or face similar risks as you do, could lighten your load and make the journey more enjoyable.

7. "Sharpen the saw"
   This last principle encourages highly effective women to apply different aspects of themselves to improving their health and wellbeing. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, you need to nurture yourself and those around you, by adapting your different skills and capabilities to the task ahead. To keep progressing on your path, you must learn, fail, commit, do and re-do....and do it all over again and again. Longevity is ultimately determined by the little choices we make on a daily basis and the passion we feel towards ourselves, over a lifetime.