Mackayla Paul is the Founder of Content Worth Consuming, an education company, developing content marketing strategies for topical experts, professionals and everyone in between.
We’re looking to partner with companies that share our passion to promote healthy work-life balance around the world. Get in touch with us!
1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
With what started as a fascination with the blogging world, my career has exploded into a full-blown obsession with Content Marketing.
I’m proud to say that so far in my career I’ve had the pleasure of hosting marketing workshops for Brazilian Beauty Salons, speaking at Mashable’s Social Media Marketing Day on the Gold Coast and I’m now a regular contributor to Social Media Examiner.
Most recently, I’ve created an education business called Content Worth Consuming. It’s a culmination of everything I’ve learned from building my own personal brand from scratch and developing content marketing strategies for topical experts, professionals and everyone in between.
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
Sure! Given the current global situation I am working from home and now that we’re a couple of months in I’ve re-discovered my groove with it.
A typical day starts with me listening to an Audiobook while getting ready, making a cuppa and a healthy breakfast, and then tucking into my first 1-2 key tasks for the day. After my ‘morning sprint’ I tune in for a team Zoom call around 10, then post-Zoom grab another cuppa and settle in for my next batch of tasks.
At lunchtime I’ll try to either do a quick pilates workout or if it’s sunny outside, I’ll head out for a roller skating session. Then it’s time for my afternoon tasks and at the end of the day, I map out my to-do’s for the next day so I’m always prepared.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Yes, it does. Remote work has become the new normal and through my work as the Content Marketing Manager for Pragmatic Thinking I’ve written a couple of pieces about working from home and creating an effective work from home routine.
If you never want to miss one of our conversations about work, life & balance, subscribe to our newsletter.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
For me, work life balance means knowing what works best for you and honouring that. We’re all so different and what I enjoy from break time rituals through to my end of day routine would probably be something another person wouldn’t enjoy.
I also find it’s important to listen to your body – if you’re having trouble focusing on a task, get up and go for a walk or do something for yourself to get yourself out of a rut. That way, you can return to your tasks with a fresh mind.
5) In the past 12 months, have you started/stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
I have started listening to Audiobooks which I never thought would happen. I have a Kindle and love reading paperbacks but I can’t deny that audiobooks are particularly useful when you’re on-the-go. For me, I tend to listen to audiobooks as I get ready for the day, while I’m cleaning my apartment or sometimes even while I’m grocery shopping.
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
I am currently listening to Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker which is a truly fascinating read. As for podcasts, my go-to listen is Kwik Brain by Jim Kwik, and a newsletter I think everyone should be signed up to is written by the one and only Mark Manson.
7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?
I’m pretty picky when it comes to apps (I used to work at an Instagram scheduling app) so I’m pretty ruthless if the UX isn’t up to scratch. In saying that, I have been a long-time fan of DuoLingo and have recently discovered Tide; a meditation-type app which I am really enjoying.
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
Jacinda Ardern, Marie Forleo or Jordan Peterson, I think they’d have interesting routines.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
While there’s plenty of useful information out there surrounding habits, routines and work life balance, it’s worth experimenting with the recommendations you find and then crafting your own unique routine.
No-one lives the exact same life, so it doesn’t make sense that we all try to follow the exact same routine to achieve ‘work life balance’.
Before you go…
If you’d like to sponsor or advertise with Balance the Grind, let’s talk here.
If you never want to miss one of our conversations about work, life & balance, subscribe to our newsletter.
This conversation is brought to you by The Well-Suited Group, providing premium executive support services to high level executives, who also recognise the value of work-life balance.