How to improve your wellbeing: 6 steps to success

It’s a well-known fact that the fashion and luxury industries are fast-paced spaces. The seasonal changes, constant evolution and demand for increasingly high standards can often make for a competitive environment to work in. While many of us thrive and get a buzz of working to these moving timelines, they can also risk taking their toll on our wellbeing – with up to 25% of the workforce in the field experiencing poor mental health at some point in their careers. 

In our latest online event, we spoke to Conscious Working founder and Wellbeing Expert Gret Betchelar about her own story. With a strong background in the fashion world, Gret worked with the likes of Michael Kors and Anya Hindmarch for over 20 years. She excelled in her career: reaching VP level, running an international team and managing a 300 million euro budget. She also had a strong support network at home, raising a young family with her partner. 

However, many of us will be familiar with the notion that life in the industry moved fast. Over time, she found that she was experiencing slow burnout, with health issues and stresses taking their toll on her body. She came to the realisation that she needed to take control of her own wellbeing, making small changes that would make a big difference to her life.  

The journey of discovery that followed led her to become a wellbeing expert, open to share her knowledge with others working in fashion and luxury so that they can prioritise their wellbeing and maximise their profits in business. During her session with us, she shared her six-step roadmap to improved wellbeing – read on for more details.

1. Start with why

You might be familiar with entrepreneur Simon Sinek’s branding reference. It’s the notion that people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it – and what you do simply proves what you believe. By putting the raison d’etre (our why) at the centre of the brand, customers will find it easier to buy into the philosophy and lifestyle that drives the products that a business creates. Although Sinek was applying this theory to the business world, we can use the same framework from a personal point of view. Take a step back from your day-to-day and be intentional about what you’re putting at the centre of your days. Why does wellbeing matter for you specifically? 

2. Set some rocks

Think about growing your career as though you’re building a cobbled path. To build the path, you’re going to need rocks, gravel and pebbles. The big rocks are going to provide you with stability and direction. Every business needs to work with the ‘sand’ – the everyday tasks that are on the to-do list. However, if you spend all your time filling the area with sand, you’re not going to see much progress on the path as a whole. So, focus on the big goals first. What are your rocks? What are you gravitating towards? 

3. Be accountable

Have you ever set a new year’s resolution that you’ve found it hard to keep past January 31st? It’s not uncommon, and usually it’s because we’ve set unrealistic goals for ourselves – diving straight into something head first without working up to it. It’s all too easy to let ourselves off the hook. Once you’ve set your goals, find an accountability partner that you can work alongside. Talk with them about your rocks and share your ‘why’ in both life and business. By setting regular check-ins with each other, you’ll be able to bounce ideas around and support each other in the path towards your goals.

4. Plan your time

How are you planning out your time to set yourself up for success? Perhaps you’re one of those people who hits the snooze button until the last possible minute, rushing to get ready before your 9AM call starts. Or maybe you’re great at giving yourself enough time to ease into the day with a morning routine. Whatever your personality type, it’s a good idea to use your calendar to plan out your week in advance, blocking out time to do the tasks that really matter, and giving yourself flexibility for when something crops up. This technique can be applied to both deep work and wellness needs. Remember to add in time for your coffee breaks and daily walk. This will help you to create some consistency across the board. 

5. Start small 

Big goals can seem so daunting that we often put things off until we feel we have ‘more time’ to work on them effectively. Don’t be afraid to start small. It might seem counterintuitive, but by breaking our goals down into smaller, more achievable steps, we can start to make a difference on those rocks that we’re working towards. The question is: what are the steps that you can take to actually move the needle on them? Keep checking in with yourself every 90 days, setting your heights a little higher every time. Over the course of a year, you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come. 

6. Celebrate the wins

All too often, it’s easy to keep on moving through your goals without taking time to pause and reflect. Once you’ve achieved even the smallest goal, celebrate it. Get used to giving yourself a pat on the back. If you find it difficult to do this, get your accountability partner involved in the process (and vice versa). It’s all about focusing on the positives and seeing the impact that it has on your overall wellbeing – both at work and in your personal life. 

Gret Betchelar is a Wellbeing Expert and founder of Conscious Working. To learn more about her movement, as well as receive tips and advice on how to improve your wellbeing at work, sign up to her newsletter here.