Donna Schultz from Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce on the upcoming wellbeing conference.

In today’s fast-moving, information-overload world, making time for ourselves is considered a luxury.

You’re not alone if prioritising health and wellbeing gets lost on your to-do list, let alone finding the optimal work-life balance.

The Office for National Statistics found that more people felt low satisfaction with their lives in the UK in January to March 2024 than in the same period five years ago.

A report by the British Red Cross also highlights that loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26 per cent and a lack of belonging causes a significant drop in productivity at work.

As a business leader, I find that setting goals and exploring my creativity help me to feel grounded, present and happy overall.

Going back to basics to make sure daily needs are met is crucial, too – things like sleep, food and hydration are easy to overlook but can impact how you feel from moment to moment.

Regular exercise is also a cornerstone of health and wellbeing. Personally, I like to run.

Not only does exercise get the endorphins going, but it also helps me get out into nature and carve space for me-time in my busy schedule.

I am currently training to run the London Marathon in 2025 with donations going to Hertfordshire Community Foundation, which means I am pairing physical fitness with another passion of mine – giving back to my community.

Prioritising ourselves means prioritising the things that are important to us, too.

That’s one of the reasons why the Chamber is hosting a Wellbeing Conference, bringing together specialists to share advice and help us to understand how our physical and mental health can influence economic, social and environmental wellbeing.

And, of course, I am delighted that we will be joined by Olympic medallist Sharron Davies MBE as one of our keynote speakers, alongside Russell Beck, of ImagineThinkDo.

Here at the Chamber, we know that happy, fulfilled colleagues who feel heard and valued are the fabric of every successful business.

The CIPD, a leading human resource association, reports that a quarter of UK workers feel that work negatively impacts their mental and physical health, highlighting just how important workplace wellbeing is for a thriving, resilient workforce.

We are dedicated to inspiring and supporting local businesses and the individuals behind them, and I know that our upcoming conference is going to be packed with insightful discussions and profound tips to optimise your wellbeing – at home and at work.

The conference is on Friday, October 11 and you can find full details at https://shorturl.at/QUkhV.

I’d love to see you there.