ADVICE . COMMUNITY . EVENTS . INSPIRATION
“I distance myself emotionally from work”
Not only is Vanya Du Toit Account Director at international brand consultancy Wiedemann Lampe. She is also a mother and a Freelance Photographer.
Gabriele spoke to Vanya to find out how she juggles all these hats whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Do you consider your work/life balance healthy?
Yes. Flexible and hybrid working has really changed the way I view work/life balance. It has made it so much easier to achieve stability.
With my new way of working, I can take my children to school at a reasonable time and not have to navigate the daily rush-hour train to be in London on time.
I think we all need to be more disciplined with drawing a line between work and life, and packing away the laptops when we’re finished for the day.
With that being said, I do enjoy going into London for meetings, or occasional days in the office; and I enjoy the vibrancy the city has to offer. But I very much love that working from home means I’m straight back into my home life as soon as I shut the laptop.
Was there a specific reason for choosing your current working style?
For me, being able to spend time with my children during the week is my top priority, everything else is secondary.
I definitely would not want to go back to the old model of working in an office for 5 days a week, and I don’t think it’s necessary either.
How do you switch off from work? Have you chosen any hobbies specifically to help you destress?
I love reading in the bath, I run when I get the time and I make sure to switch my phone onto airplane mode once the workday is over.
How do you manage your stress whilst at work?
Over the years, I have grown to be able to manage stress effectively at work. Things that used to bother me no longer do.
Percy Pigs help! But when I’m short of those I simply distance myself emotionally from work, challenging projects, and tight deadlines.
I work through my to-do list methodically and deal with demanding clients and projects calmly ultimately.
What do you feel employers should do to reduce work-related stress?
It helps when the company leaders themselves are calm and in control, and able to listen and respond to their teams’ needs and problems as they arise.
You can check out Vanya’s fantastic work here. If you’re feeling inspired and want to find a freelance design role of your own, speak to our Creative team.