My 9-Year-Old Gave Me Career Advice That Changed My Life and It Might Change Yours, Too

My 9-Year-Old Gave Me Career Advice That Changed My Life and It Might Change Yours, Too Article by Daniel WesleyMy son is nine years old. One morning not too long ago, he asked, Why do I have to go to school before the sun is even up? He loves school, but he doesnt hit his stride until sometime between noon and 7 p.m. I remember feeling the same way as a kid, but at some point, I stopped wondering about the reasons and just fell into the routine of rising before I was ready.I couldnt change my sons school policy, but his question forced me toexamine the position quo and even adopt a new perspective on my own work life.As an entrepreneur, I could change the work environment for my team. So, I instituted a policy of complete time flexibility as long as employees had no pressing meetings and got their work done. My team was a lot happier as a result all because my kid questioned the way the world worked and I took his query to heart.Heres how Ive chang ed the way I workthanks to my sons observation I Made My Communication IntentionalIf theres one thing I know about kids, its that theyre great at asking Why? Why do we make our kids get out of bed before sunrise? Why do we follow societys expected routine? Why do we just go with it, never bothering to change it up?My sons question sparked many more whys for me. I stopped and asked myself why my team had to be at the office by 8 a.m. and out by 5 p.m., and I found no answer other than Because thats the way it is in business.As a parent, Ive had to consciously find ways to communicate with my child so that hell understand me, especially when he asks me tough questions. But Ive become much more intentional about the way I communicate with the adults in my life, too. When Im dealing with the rest of the world, whether its friends, family members, or coworkers, its easier to get frustrated when someone doesnt understand me. Now, I stop to ask myself why Im getting frustrated, and I think its partly because we arent as attentive as we should be when it comes to general communication.Now, Im certainly not suggesting you talk to fellow adults like theyre children. Talking down to people of any age is disrespectful. However, talking through problems, solutions, and the whys behind them all with the patience and respect youd give a child could foster understanding and build deeper connections. Just imagine what you could do if you took the time to listen carefully to other peoples thoughts and ideas rather than dismissing them with one short sentence. The possibilities are enormous. I Broke Up With My Strict Routinebrde time I checked, were the masters of our own destinies, right? Perhaps its time we remind ourselves of that fact and make small changes as we can.We all know the saying, Be the change you wish to see in the world. Even if you make a change thats far from dramatic such as eating breakfast at home instead of on the go, taking a mid-morning coffee break, or moving to a common workspace at the end of the day you might shift the way you view your daily routine.Like my son asking why he had to wake up before he was well rested, I asked myself what I could do if I took charge of my routine. I quit following the herd that migrates to offices and high-rises every morning during rush hour, and I allowed my employees to do the same. I work best at night, and Ive now embraced that fact.There are certain things we cannot change and thats okay. This article wont suddenly change every CEOs mind and make flexible scheduling the norm worldwide. But if you can take control of your own routine, you can make a big difference in your world. You might improve your work/life balance, you might be more productive, and you might even start to find solutions before problems crop up. Use your free time to work toward something you want to do, not something you have to do. I Dedicated Time to MyselfAs I said, my son loves school. But he also needs his sleep. I get it. One thing I need most is some time for myself at the gym. When I first transitioned to working in an office, I stopped going to the gym as often as I wanted. But I realized that I couldnt be at my best if I wasnt taking care of myself. While it still feels like a selfish decision sometimes, I make aya to get away from my desk to hit the gym regularly.Even if you just spend 30 minutes a day doing something you love, I bet youll notice a difference. Consider that in a recent study, 43 percent of participants said their work had a negative impact on their stress levels. Its clear that taking care of our mental and physical health by engaging in activities that relieve stress is important. Try going for a walk, shooting hoops with your coworkers, or reading for fun.At first, you might feel like the pressure of completing your tasks on time and living up to your companys expectations makes taking time for yourself impossible. I cant stress enough that the time you spend focusi ng inward is truly productive. I use my time to clear my mind, find my center, and refocus on what matters. If you do the same, I bet youll find the people you work with and those you live with see a better version of you.My son might be just nine years old, but when it comes to wisdom about work/life balance, I believe age is just a number. He inspired me to make changes to the way I work, and Id wager that the advice I gleaned from his simple question could help you work better, too.A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.Daniel Wesley is a Florida-based entrepreneur with a degree in nuclear medicine. His work has been featured in Forbes, WSJ, CBS MoneyWatch, and TIME Magazine. He is the founder and editor-in-chief at CreditLoan.com.