Balance June 2019 - 18

HOW TO HAVE
WO R D S
JA M E S
G I L L

THE PERFECT
Winter is coming! Well, technically...
21 June is the longest day of the
year, and we don't want you to feel
like you've squandered it. So why
not follow James Gill's simple (yet
effective) way to spend the damnnear 17 hours of daylight available
in the most perfect way imaginable?

WORK MEANS WORK

5.30am
YO U T I M E
OK, this is a controversial way to start any day.
And no, we haven't taken leave of our senses.
That's because if you can make this early start
routine, it is utterly transformative. I've made
5.30am starts the norm. As someone who's
married with two children, this 60-90 minute
window is my alone time. I don't go for a run,
or cycle, or anything that screams "health".
Rather, I sit still. The chatter in the head calms,
and this quiet, reflective moment sets me up
for the day. And yes, I watch TV I can't watch
with the family.

7am

8.15am
BREAKFAST
Overnight oats are so easy to do. And because
you prepared them last night, all you're doing
is taking them out of the fridge and scoffing
them for slow-burn energy release. Get
showered and changed, and you're on your way.

8.45am

WORK OUT

MORNING COMMUTE

If you can make this habit-forming, you'll feel
like you have the world by the tail. The Journal
of Physiology has found morning workouts
can make you feel more alert throughout the
day before energy levels dip in the evening; if
you're someone who likes a sound sleep, this
is a good thing. Given exercise also combats
stress, a morning sweat is the perfect way to
tee yourself up for a day in the office. And
who doesn't want to feel ever-so-slightly smug
following an early morning session?

Eurgh, the morning battle. You don't get a
seat. Your fellow travellers look sad and tired.
Someone is giving you a filthy glare and they
look positively haggard... Oh, wait: that's
your reflection. If only something could lift
your flagging spirits. Why, before you can say
"Shameless self-promotion" it's the Balance
podcast! With such a rich array of guests
from entertainment, wellbeing, sport and
beyond, how can this product be free? It's
a valid question...

18

9.30AM
Want some great advice? Don't fanny about.
According to one report, we spend 28 per cent
of our working life wading through our inbox.
You're thinking about doing it now, aren't you?
Close your email down! Checking them does
not equate to work, and you're more productive
if you spend your working time, you know,
actually working and leaving on time, rather
than procrastinating and staying until 8pm.
Working incredibly hard might not scream
"perfect day", but you'll feel better and less
anxious for getting more done.

1pm
LUNCH BREAK

Remember when we used to take a lunch
break? London was all fields back then... Just
a third of workers claim to do so now, although
we're surprised it's as high as that. However,
you simply must take one, mostly because
your brain needs time to recuperate for the
rest of the day. In fact, it's in your company's
best interests for you to take one, as it makes
you more productive. Go for lunch with a
colleague: connecting with friends is great for
your mental health, it's good for work-based
camaraderie and you'll be away from the
office environment, which is important for
psychologically hitting "CTRL ALT DELETE".
Balance June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance June 2019
