Celebrating women’s resilience and wellbeing on International Women's Day

International Women's Day is a special time to honour women's strength and achievements worldwide. This year, the focus is on women's wellbeing and resilience, exploring what these concepts mean to them. From maintaining physical health to nurturing mental and emotional wellbeing, it's an opportunity to discuss empowerment and confidence. I had the privilege of speaking with two remarkable Charlotte Tilbury employees, Sammi Michaels, Digital Content Coordinator and Y’shira Kelly, Senior Product Manager (Apps), about their strategies for prioritising wellbeing and staying resilient despite their busy schedules.

The art of being well

Both Y’shira and Sammi see their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing as interconnected and crucial for their overall health. They consider these aspects as fundamental elements of a holistic approach to their wellbeing.

“For me, physical and mental wellbeing work hand in hand and need to be in perfect balance. I am always feeling my best when I look after both my mind and my body. Working out and going to the gym is a huge part of this. Taking time out for me really has that “feel good” factor to it” said Sammi.

“It’s about resilience and adaptability to physical, menta and emotional challenges and I do this through physical movement and finding community at my gym. At the beginning of the week, I put my workouts on my calendar because I prioritise exercise as important and something I have to make time for” added Y’shira.

A balancing act

Sammi and Y’shira both agreed that juggling work, personal life and self-care needs careful planning and regular prioritisation, to keep a healthy balance. Sammi likes to keep a routine to make sure she has time to press pause and relax.

“Despite working full time, every week I go to the gym and see friends. Having arrangements throughout the week is so important for me and is part of my regular routine. This allows me to take time away from work, re-set and have fun.”

Y’shira also acknowledged that managing this balancing act became even more challenging after having a baby.

“Since having a baby, priorities are made for me and that’s where I’ve had to be most flexible! I’ve also had to quickly forgive myself for not always getting the balance right… it’s never all-or-nothing thinking, I just need to explore small, doable changes that work for me at that time.”

Tales of resilience

Y’shira and Sammi both shared their individual experiences and personal priorities that play a significant role in shaping who they are and empowering them to navigate life's obstacles with greater resilience. Y’shira shared her unique experience of living on a sailing boat as an example.

“I’ve developed a unique kind of resiliency and resourcefulness through my experience of living and sailing on a boat for 15 years. I got to experience lots of different cultures. I learned a lot about embracing a slower pace of life, the simplicity of what can make me happy and how to push beyond my comfort zone. I do feel that I’m very resilient partly as a consequence of that experience!”

Sammi's resilience is nurtured by finding a unique balance that enables her to be the best version of herself.

“Skipping my workouts or social arrangements noticeably affects my mood. The link between physical activity, social connections and my mental health is clear and missing one of these aspects out of my week makes a huge difference. Finding that balance has been crucial in my life to make sure that I am doing the things I love to make me feel my best self.” explained Sammi.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, speaking with these two remarkable women highlighted how diverse lifestyles and personal priorities can influence our individual wellbeing journeys. Yet, at the core, it's about striking a unique balance that allows us to unwind, reconnect with loved ones, push our physical limits and refresh our minds.