Are you a fierce leader who wants to make a difference? Join the #WATCHME Live Fierce movement in February and inspire others to live without limitations. The health and well-being of your employees is top of mind. Help them adopt the Live Fierce mentality and show the world how they can turn challenges into opportunities in 2021. It is time to take back our lives.

What are some #WATCHME ideas for you and your teams?

• Focus on mental health and encourage a no-meeting day to allow employees to recharge.
• Allow a longer lunch break with a designated time for employees to walk or exercise for physical health or meditate or do yoga for their mental health.
• Encourage employees to spread awareness about women’s health.
• Go Red for Women by wearing your red, have your building go red, hold a Zoom best-dressed contest on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 5.
• Participate in the 2021 New Orleans Go Red for Women Digital Experience on Friday, March 5.
• Encourage a virtual potluck staff meeting with healthy recipes and show the participants using #WATCHME Eat Healthy.
• Challenge others to live healthy with you, like adding steps to their daily goals and staying more active every week in February and beyond.

Make a splash on Social Media:

• Post a quick video to social media showing how you can take action and use hashtag #WATCHME.
• Send your video to Mary.Fein@heart.org. Be sure to give permission for use in our created materials.

If you are interested in learning more to contact the local AHA at AHANewOrleans@heart.org or to visit www.heart.org/neworleans.

About the Greater New Orleans American Heart Association: The Greater New Orleans American Heart Association fosters collective action through our local programs and partnerships that aim to improve quality of life, increase opportunity, and ensure care for all our neighbors. Every member of our community should be able to achieve well-being supported by the places they live, learn, work, play, pray, and heal. Connect with us locally at Heart.org/nola or on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

1)    What inspired you to stay healthy and fit in the first place?

Three years ago in August, I turned 39 years old. I was walking up the stairs when I realized my knees were really hurting… and then out of the blue, it hit me – I am a hot mess and I’m going to be 40 in a year: I was 100 pounds overweight, working 70 hours per week, smoking like a chimney, and constantly worried to the point that I needed Ambien on an almost daily basis.

While I had a successful software development company, I certainly didn’t feel like a success. I felt empty and anxious. I was burnt out and exhausted.  I knew it was time to make a change. I needed more than a quick fix. Surface-level changes – temporary diets, new workout fads, etc. – weren’t going to cut it this time.

It was time to reprogram myself in order to tap into my full potential and experience authentic success along with a deep sense of fulfillment.

I found mentors in the form of trainers and peers who were successful and fulfilled. I used my time in my EO Forum to focus on personal growth. I read voraciously — from “Man’s Search for Meaning” and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Total Recall” to “Tools of Titans” and everything in between.

One by one, I applied new “processes” to my life – early morning workouts, reading instead of watching TV, daily gratitude and goal setting, meditation, and intermittent fasting.

Today: 

• I’m at a healthy sustainable weight
• I’ve quit smoking, 
• I generally work no more than 50 hours per week, 
• and I sleep like a baby. 
• Best of all, I’ve managed to find happiness in the now, while still actively pursuing aggressive professional and personal goals.

2)    How has an active lifestyle influenced/changed the way you work?

It’s changed everything. 

• Because I work-out early I have time before the day starts to actually plan it.
• My energy levels are high and my mood is even, therefore I make much better decisions
• I’m much more focused on doing one thing at a time to completion instead of spreading myself too thinly
• I lead people with much more patience and clearer direction
• I inspire my people to get more work/life balance including wellness
• My business has doubled in revenue, headcount is up 50%, and employee satisfaction is 9/10 (it was 6/10)

3)    What sports activities do you participate in?

• Compound weightlifting 3 days per week (1 hour)
• Cardio + ROMWOD 4 days per week (1 hour 10 minutes)
• Daily Meditation (20 min, 2/day)– which I consider weightlifting for the brain

4)    How much time per week do you spend working out/staying healthy?

• 12 hours / week

5)    Many CEOs/leaders say they lack the time to stay fit. What motivational advice can you give them to get started (based on your experience)?

A couple points here:

• The time you invest in fitness is nothing compared to
  • The efficiency of the time you work
  • The financial impact of you making better decisions
• There’s no point in being successful if you can’t enjoy it because
  • You have no energy for your home life
  • You die or are incapacitated early because you let your health slide
• Start small. One habit at a time.  Do it for 30 days, and then once it doesn’t take any willpower to do, add another habit.  Remember, if you add more than one at once you’re more likely to give up.
• Visualize a Heaven and Hell
  • Heaven: what your life looks like in 5 years if you get fit – e.g. “I have a ton of energy, my kids have a role model, my spouse finds me attractive”
  • Hell: what your life looks like if you don’t – “I’m obese, my knees hurt.  I have no energy and cope with alcohol and food.  Kids learn bad habits from me.”
  • If you have a clear vision of the outcomes, then you’ll be able to find time to get fit!  Mentally and physically

Written by: Neel Sus, CEO, Susco
Neel is a believer in conscious leadership who’s mission is to help people lead more fulfilling lives.  As the CEO of Susco, his company achieves that mission by creating business software and mobile workforce apps for mid-market organizations that their employees actually enjoy using while being more productive

Tis’ the Season to Indulge: 5 Tips for Mindful, Healthy Holiday

Content brought to you by the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association has published the following resources to make sure you can enjoy delicious food this holiday without overindulging.

DECEMBER: Holiday Healthy Living and Giving

• Holiday Healthy Eating Guide
• How To Eat Healthy Over The Holidays: 6 Strategies From The Aha For Holiday Healthy Eating
• 7 Excuses To Overindulge, And How To Take Control
• Holiday Eating Can Stay Under Control With Simple Strategies
• 8 Ways To Hack Your Holiday Recipes

Think about how to make your life simpler on the home front.

1. Get that shopping out of the way early. Make a list of everyone in your life, check it twice and buy in the fewest trips to the store. Shop locally, if possible, at a deserving business and tell them what you are looking for when you walk through the door—or give them a call ahead.

2. Share the burden of managing the holiday cooking and events calendar, by delegating to kids, partners, spouses, and friends. Other people can and do cook well, and they’re happy to contribute.

3. Give yourself permission to RSVP “NO.”  Staying home or prioritizing other tasks before social events nets you peace of mind, but it can take practice to deny FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) any real estate in your mind.