Career Moves

If life in the fast lane is taking its toll on your body and spirit, take inspiration from these yogis who traded in their high-powered careers for peace of mind.

By Susan R. Cohen

Can you imagine missing your cousin's wedding ceremony or your family reunion because you were preparing a business presentation for a potential client? What about skipping Thanksgiving dinner because the FDA approved a new drug early and you were responsible for the press conference? Or having to cancel dinner and a Broadway show because your client suddenly needed a media report two weeks earlier than originally planned?

This was my life, working 60 to 70 hours a week plus many weekends as a health care public relations executive. Always at the mercy of client demands and pressure to bring in new business, my career, especially at public relations agencies in New York City, was no cakewalk. But my salary, 401(k) plan, and benefits were strong incentives to keep me going.

Working in the fast lane took a toll on my mind, body, and spirit. I regularly canceled plans and disappointed friends and family members. I missed art, dance, and exercise classes because of work commitments. And I visited numerous doctors because of stress-related health problems. In fact, I used to joke that the more money I earned, the more I had for my increased health care expenses. I found this ironic since my work involved promoting drugs and supplements to improve one's well-being.

I knew my lifestyle wasn't working, but I wasn't sure how to change it. Work was my priority, and no matter how much I tried to balance my life, I couldn't.

I blamed my stressful life on the kind of public relations I did, so I switched from promoting pharmaceutical drugs to promoting health education campaigns. Nothing changed, so I tried complementary medicine and alternative care, thinking that if I worked with people who supported a holistic approach to health care, my professional life would improve.

I also thought the place I worked was the problem. I left the fast-paced world of public relations agencies for health care consulting firms. No change. So I started my own business, EastWest Consulting, but my work habits became even worse. As a last ditch effort, I tried the corporate world, hoping for a 9 to 5 schedule. I still worked long hours.

I was also convinced that my elevated stress level was related to the lack of trees and grass where I lived. I moved from New York City to Washington, D.C., then to Bethesda, Maryland, then to Westport, Connecticut, and finally returned to New York.

But no matter what kind of public relations I did, where I worked, or where I lived, my life remained at the same Type A pace. Clearly, my strategies were not working. I was beginning to sense that I might have to change my internal world before any external change was going to occur.

I tried spiritual retreats, weekend getaways, and therapeutic workshops. Although I always came back from these mind-body escapes recharged, within three weeks I returned to the same frenetic pace. Simply put, I wasn't able to achieve inner peace while working in the executive arena.

I dabbled in yoga. It quieted my body and mind and taught me how to breathe. Although I recognized the benefits, I could not stick to a regular practice because of my work schedule. When pressed for time, I chose proposals over Downward Dog. But intuitively I knew that yoga, somehow, could really help me.

Page 1 2 3 4

See All News & Trends Articles »