I’m a guest on “Do Yourself A Favour” podcast: Closing the Laptop and Living Life.
By Maria Gardner, Chief Business Psychologist | 19th January 2022.
I’m thrilled to announce that I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on the Do Yourself A Favour podcast, hosted by the wonderful Tim Sismey from Make Work Work Better. A podcast about learning from experience, and the things that make our lives easier.
Do yourself a favour… and close the laptop.
In this episode, titled Do Yourself A Favour… And Close The Laptop, I shared a lesson I wish I’d learned much earlier: the importance of switching off from work. We live in a world where the rates of presenteeism and leavism (showing up when we should be resting) are going through the roof. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m guilty of not being able to switch off sometimes, especially after years of thinking I had this balance all figured out on an intellectual level. But, applying it to your own life? That's another story!
During my conversation with Tim, we explored how modern work culture affects our wellbeing and why it’s so important to step back, rest, and recharge. The key message?
"Do yourself a favour and… switch off this bank holiday and close the laptop. Go and live - experience life! Work will still be there when you come back."
My Picks: Books, Tools, and Epiphanies
Beyond talking about the work-life balance, Tim and I dug into some of the personal tools and inspirations that help me stay focused and mentally tough. For instance, we discussed the concept of mental toughness - a life-changing idea that I first encountered during my master's research in stress and performance at call centres. Resilience is all about bouncing back, but mental toughness takes it a step further, enabling you to not even perceive stress the same way. This concept has shaped so much of how I approach challenges professionally and personally.
I also shared some practical tips like my daily go-to tool, the Inspire Now Daily Journal, and how audiobooks have transformed my walks into moments of inspiration, learning and reflection.
Fun tangents and 80’s nostalgia.
One of my favourite parts of the of the episode was Tim and I - aside from talking all things wellbeing - was us going completely off-topic during the intro. We discovered a shared appreciation and love of 80s cartoons, retro children’s TV shows and the frustration of series that finish on a cliff hanger or with no resolution! It was a refreshing and fun reminder of how shared memories and lighter conversations can sometimes spark the best connections and fuel the soul in unexpected ways.
Thanks for having me Tim!
Where to Listen.
The episode is available now on your favourite platforms:
Do Yourself a Favour and Listen….
I invite you all to tune in, especially if you’re navigating the tricky terrain of work-life balance or just need a reminder that it's okay to shut down the laptop and enjoy life. Whether you’re looking for practical advice, professional insights, or just a fun listen, this episode has a bit of everything.
Listen now and don’t forget to follow the Do Yourself A Favour podcast for more episodes that will inspire you to make life easier, one epiphany at a time. After you’ve listened, I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment or share your own work-life balance tips!
Encore…
In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed Maria’s ramblings why not check out some of our other blogs and thought pieces. For real time updates and insights you can also find us on LinkedIn, our social media platform of choice: @PsychologyWorks and @mariagardner
