Leadership / 08.03.23

The Power of Personal Wellness — Tips for a Happier, Healthier You!

Christine Payne

It feels great to wake up refreshed in the morning, ready to take on a brand new day. You may begin with a steaming cup of coffee, a hearty breakfast, your morning exercise routine, a walk in the sun or writing in a gratitude journal. How you start and what the day holds will be different for everyone, but how your body and mind feel will make all the difference in your day.

Wellness encompasses every aspect of your personal health and well-being. That is why at INTIX, we always make time and space for these essential topics.

Here are eight areas to help unlock your best life and boost your wellness:

1. Focus on life-work balance. Setting boundaries is important when you work in the fast-paced world of live events and entertainment. With long and often unpredictable hours, equally prioritize time for your family, friends, activities and hobbies.
   
   “Words have power whether we are conscious of it or not,” Kay Burnham, founder of Perceiving Possibilities, says. “When we talk about ‘work-life balance,’ we are automatically putting work as the focus of the balance we are trying to achieve. If we put life first in that phrase, we are signifying to ourselves and others that our life is a priority.”
   
   Prioritizing your life does not mean you are turning your back on ticketing. You will not disappoint colleagues, friends or family either. In fact, it is quite the opposite. You can't support others effectively unless you take care of yourself first. So, taking care of yourself is the key to being there for others.
   
   Also read: Time Off Is the Ticket to ‘Life-Work’ Balance, Higher Productivity and More
    
2. Revitalize and renew. We all need time off. Whether it is a long weekend or an extended break, you can mentally and physically recharge when you rest. Time off also allows you to reduce stress, step away from daily pressures and take a break from your regular routine. Don’t wait one minute longer than necessary to take time for yourself.
   
   Also read: The Importance of Taking Time to Take Time Off
    
3. Disconnect to reconnect. Limit screen time so that it doesn’t take all your time. Take a break from your phone — whether you turn off notifications voluntarily, remove work-related apps when you are on your personal time or simply have no connectivity.
   
   In the summer, Charles Edinger and his wife spend a lot of time at their cabin, which is not quite a two-hour drive from Green Bay. The Director of Ticket Operations for Ticket Star, a division of PMI Entertainment Group, tries to get up there as much as he can. “And darn the luck, I have no cell phone coverage at my cabin’s location … This allows me to disconnect from the work side of [life], and that is really a great time out.”
    
4. Limit negativity. Life is not always sunshine and rainbows, and every day is not a “Doris Day.” Reducing your exposure to negative news and social media content can positively impact your mental health. Look for good news and positive stories, then share them with others.
    
5. Make time for self-care. From eating well and exercising to getting a massage, spending time with loved ones or even taking a hot bath, there are many things that ticketing professionals recommend to stay balanced.
   
   “Exercise helps me,” Tony DiCamillo, Vice President of Business Development for See Tickets — North America, says.
   
   Linda Forlini, who retired in May 2020 after a successful ticketing career spanning over a quarter century, recommends getting a massage monthly.
   
   “I highly recommend soaking in the bathtub with your iPad watching Netflix,” Tracy Noll, Director of Sales and Development Services at Pennsylvania State University, says. “The kids won’t come in and get you. Get an hour to yourself, just soaking in the tub.”
   
   Also read: 12 Tips for Self-Care in Ticketing
    
6. Find inner peace through mindfulness and meditation. Both can be learned, developed and refined with time. Some people find they come quickly and more naturally. Others may need consistent practice to realize the full benefits.
   
   Kay Burnham knows well the calm that meditation and mindfulness can bring. She was first introduced to meditation at 5 years old and then practiced it regularly until life became busy in adulthood. Burnham returned to it with a therapist’s encouragement “after a series of very significant events shook my world to the ground.” She dove back in, downloading meditation apps and attending various seminars and events. Burnham even returned to school to get a second master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology looking at mindfulness and leadership. “At the end of it, I found calm,” she says.
   
   Also read: Perceiving Possibilities: Finding Inner Peace Amidst Strife and Chaos
    
7. Learn from others. Good advice is everywhere — especially in a community as giving as ours. Ticketing peers far and wide have many suggestions to help you live your best life, from buying good shoes and a good mattress (thanks, Peter I’anson) and taking all your vacation/PTO days (thanks, Linda Forlini) to practicing gratitude (thanks, Karen Sullivan) and focusing on the good (thanks, Raleigh Hawk).
   
   “I’ve always said that as humans, we spend way too much time dwelling on the things that have gone wrong, trying to figure out how to prevent them from happening again, when we really should be focusing on the things that go right and how to recreate that in other areas of our lives. Focus on the good, not the bad,” Sarah Goodson Anderson says.
   
   Also read: 26 Ideas to Help Make Your Life Better: Amazing Random Advice From Ticketing Professionals
    
8. Celebrate success. Whether it’s something small or substantial, something you did or someone else achieved, take time to stop and celebrate. Acknowledging achievements will help boost self-esteem and motivation.

Improving well-being is an ongoing journey. Remember that no step forward is too small and that consistent change in several areas of your life can lead to significant improvements.

You May Also Like

• Kelley Monts de Oca’s Ticketing Career Is Coming Full Circle at Playhouse Square
• 26 Ideas to Help Make Your Life Better: Amazing Random Advice From Ticketing Professionals
• Jon Secunda Brings Spirit, Mentorship and Friendship to a Successful and Diverse Ticketing Career

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Tags: Leadership , Self Care