Veriffians on World Health Day: mental and physical well-being  

What are your (favorite) healthy habits?

Geo Jolly, Lead Product Manager

My passion for healthy living stepped up three years ago when I discovered the exhilaration of marathon running. Now, I run six times a week, fuelling both my physical and mental well-being. To complement my runs, I've also incorporated a daily mobility routine into my mornings. This combination keeps me feeling strong, energized, and ready to tackle any challenge!

Ingrid Dreyersdorff, Verification Team Lead

My favorite healthy habit is exercising! Staying active, especially outdoors, helps me to clear my mind and stay healthy.

Sharelle Holdsworth, Senior Digital Marketing Manager

My favorite healthy habits focus on both physical and nutritional well-being. I aim to go to the gym a couple of times a week, where I balance weights with cardio exercises (cardio has been one I’ve picked up more recently over the last year to build good heart health and stamina). Having this routine is particularly healthy for me to move my body, as this otherwise wouldn’t happen in an office setting.

Additionally, over the years, I’ve challenged myself to participate in the occasional 10k for charity, and this year, I’ve signed up for a half marathon.

In terms of nutrition, at the beginning of the year, I swapped out my morning apple or sugary breakfast for a healthier breakfast, made up of mushrooms, avocado, tomato, and egg, alongside green juice that includes vitamins, minerals, and greens. This was a huge change for me as I was never really a breakfast person, and now I love it! This swap has not only improved my energy levels but also has given me a clear mind for focus, which is useful when planning digital marketing campaigns and analyzing performance for growth.

Any tips and tricks for others on sticking to their healthy habits?

Geo

My first recommendation is to start with tiny steps. Don't try to overhaul your life overnight. Choose one small, achievable change. Next, focus on consistency over intensity. Prioritize doing your healthy habit every day, even if it's just for a short time, because regularity builds momentum.

In the middle of developing your healthy lifestyle, don't forget to celebrate your wins and acknowledge every small victory! This positive reinforcement will keep you motivated. Another super motivator is finding yourself a buddy. Having an accountability partner can provide support and encouragement when you need it.

Last but not least, be kind to yourself – setbacks are normal. Don't beat yourself up, just simply refocus and get back on track.

Ingrid

My number one health tip when it comes to exercise is to try different sports and find out what you enjoy doing! It also helps to have a group of people around who share your love for it – you develop this unique bond through sweating it out together!

Sharelle

Write down what you want to achieve, then prioritize and focus on adding one to your daily, weekly, or monthly routine. I’ve found that focusing on one helps not to overload yourself with too many healthy habits, so much so that you end up not doing any. As hard as it is, sometimes you just can’t rely on motivation, it isn’t always there (we’ve all been there), rely on discipline instead. Sometimes, I’m not in the mood to go to the gym, but when I do, I always feel better for it. After a while, the new habit becomes part of your natural routine the more you stick to your routine, this becomes your lifestyle. Always remember the benefits for your mind, soul and body, and the growth you’ll experience!

How do your healthy lifestyle and hobbies help you in your daily work at Veriff?

Geo

As a Product Manager at Veriff, my fast-paced role demands agility and adaptability. A healthy lifestyle and engaging hobbies are crucial to my success. I'll bring you some examples.

Enhance focus and productivity. Regular exercise significantly improves my concentration and energy levels, allowing me to tackle complex tasks and context-switching with greater efficiency.

Cultivate mental resilience. The challenges I face during workouts strengthen my mental toughness. This translates directly to my work, enabling me to persevere through difficult projects and make sound decisions under pressure.

Promote work-life balance. My hobbies provide essential outlets for stress relief and creative expression. This helps me avoid burnout and return to work with renewed enthusiasm.

Ingrid

Because I mostly work remotely from home, achieving those 10,000 to 12,000 daily steps is even more crucial. I usually start my day with a 40-minute walk or run and end the day with strength training with a group in a gym. Moving my body in the morning sets a positive tone for the day. I have tried numerous types of workouts, from Zumba to boxing to cross-training, and have discovered what I enjoy the most. I also like to mix it up from time to time.

Sharelle

My healthy lifestyle directly contributes to my performance and well-being at work. Regular exercise helps to maintain motivation and positive well-being, which is great for bringing my best self and ideas to the workday. My balanced diet, especially breakfast helps me to increase energy levels and start each day with a clear mind and focus. The skills I gain from running translate into persistence and resilience in my professional tasks, which helps me tackle problems and meet deadlines. 

Overall, these healthy habits help me maintain a good level of efficiency and creativity in my role at Veriff. Next, I’d love to invest in an adjustable desk and under-desk treadmill for steps – I’ve seen these have become more popular over the recent years and seems like the perfect way to get in daily steps when working in an office.