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Balancing the Grind with Emma Parsons, Head Of Content at M&C Saatchi Australia

Emma Parsons is the Head Of Content at M&C Saatchi Australia, where she works with brands like Commonwealth Bank, Woolworths, Tourism Australia and TAB.

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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I’m the Head of Content at M&C Saatchi. I’ve been specialising in social media for 13years, starting out as a community manager and working my way through account management and into strategy, both here and in London.

2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

When not in lockdown, I usually start my day with a coffee then a barre or hiit class at my local gym. Then usually it’s straight into my first meeting of the day, or if that’s not at 9am, I’ll start by reading through emails and writing my daily to-do list; I enjoy crossing things off as I get through them.

I usually eat breakfast at around 10am (avo or egg on toast), then it’s meeting after meeting, fitting in work wherever I can between. I’ll grab lunch (My Muscle Chef at home or the local grocer near the office) and tend to work through it, or if I need a break a little online shopping or browsing my socials!

I finish work entirely dependent on what deadlines I have the next day; I like to work my own hours, finishing a little early if I know there’s nothing pressing the next day, or having a break then working another few hours in the evening if I need to.

For me it all balances out, I like to focus on outcomes rather than 9-5pm. I don’t respond well to rigid rules and work well to my own schedule, always have!

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

Yes and it’s the happiest and most productive I’ve ever been. Being able to work my own hours and work from home when I’m not required in the office has been a game changer. I’m as busy as I’ve ever been but I feel in control.

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

It means being able to go to the gym in the morning; I know it’s ok if I’m at work at 9:30am (if I don’t have a meeting) because I’ll make the time up at the end of the day, or over the weekend or wherever it works out.

It means being able to spend quality time with my cat, who’s a rescue so very cuddly cough needy. It means not feeling guilty or having to explain myself if I’m not adhering to someone else’s arbitrary rules. I don’t really work at it, I’m led by my schedule and deadlines.

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

Yes, I started going to the gym last year, because this is the most flexibility I’ve ever had. Previous jobs demanded you were there at 9am on the dot, which gave me the excuse not to go as it meant going super early. Now, if I’m working from home it doesn’t make a difference, or if I go to the office afterwards and it’s after 9am it’s fine.

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

Love Brene Brown’s The Power of Vulnerability audiobook, it’s life changing. I also went through a long period of tuning into Sean Croxton’s podcast “Quote of the day”. Each episode is only 10 minutes or so; he pulls out motivational, powerful moments from thought leader’s TED Talks or YouTube videos.

For a year I had a ten minute bus commute to a very stressful job, and my father had just died, so listening to this each morning genuinely helped set me up to face each day head on.

7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?

Uber. I don’t have a car so Uber4lyf.

8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?

Honestly, right now Gladys Berejiklian – how she got through last year and now this lockdown without imploding is anyone’s guess.

9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

For me, changing my mindset to being outcomes based has been game changing. That and not caring what others might think.

A few years ago, when I worked in a toxic culture, I used to hang around in the office until late at night doing work that wasn’t due, purely so I could be seen as “working hard”. Inevitably I burned out, pretty badly.

That made me realise the importance of finding the balance, and having faith in myself that I could get the job done, whilst maintaining mental and physical health. I’ve learnt to manage up when I’m feeling overwhelmed, and to take breaks when I know I’m able to, becauses ultimately it all balances out.

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About Author

Hey there! I'm Hao, the Editor-in-Chief at Balance the Grind. We’re on a mission to showcase healthy work-life balance through interesting stories from people all over the world, in different careers and lifestyles.