Lessons from a Super WomanThis months newsletter features our recent interview with Dr Fiona Wood. Fiona is the burn surgeon from Perth and in 2005 was awarded Australian of the Year. This woman is an inspiration to us all. She is Director of her hospital unit, a leading surgeon, a world renowned researcher, a teacher, a mentor, a board member on a number of health boards, speaks all over the country, has six kids all that live at home and exercises for an hour and a half a day. Fiona gets more high performance out of one day than most of us do in a week. She is a high performer who oozes creativity and productivity.
We asked her how she keeps up with this frantic and fast paced lifestyle.
**Health:** When asked “with your busy schedule how can you afford to exercise for 1.5 hours a day” her reply was “with my busy schedule how can I not afford to exercise for 1.5 hours a day”. “The only way I can keep up with my busy life is by staying fit and health. The exercise gives me the energy levels and fitness to lead such a busy life”.
Fiona’s tips are:
1. to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day
2. Eat regular meals during the day to keep your energy levels high
3. Avoid fatty and sugary foods
To fit in exercise you need to be creative take your runners to work and when you feel tired and unproductive that is the time to go for a quick walk. Also get the family involved and take the kids out for some exercise.
**Be Present:** With 6 children and a busy career, Fiona has limited time with each of her family members to overcome this she practices being present with them. “Whenever I am with my family, I make sure I am completely present with them, they are all I am thinking about. When I am with my family I am not thinking about work or what I have to do tomorrow”.
**Negative People:** Fiona is careful who she spends her time with. She tries to avoid spending time with people who are a drain on her energy, rather she surrounds herself with motivated and energetic people who build her up rather than drag her down.
**Stay focused:** As a woman in a male dominated industry she had a lot of knockers when she started out. The way she overcame this is by staying focused on the goal she wanted and controlling what she said to herself. When people told her she couldn’t do it she blocked that thought from coming into her head and just focused on what she wanted to achieve.
Dr Fiona Wood an inspiration to us all!!!
Posted by Dr Adam Fraser
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