Manar Al Hinai: be bold if the road ahead isn't smooth

January 2012 was the start of a new beginning for me. I made an effort to look after my health more and dedicated enough time to do cardio and yoga exercises. However, despite doing all of this, I did not immediately see an obvious change in the way I look.
But a couple of months later I noticed that the "obvious" change I was working for was taking place. I became more physically fit and able to conduct rigid exercises without running out of breath, and my muscles became much stronger. I even looked forward to exercising and felt out of place when I missed a session. So what has changed?
Reading what I have just written, one might think I spent more time exercising or doing more of what I used to do. In fact I did the exact opposite.
I changed the way I worked out, and it took me half the time it used to, freeing up space for me to work out on other things on my agenda.
Instead of following the same old routine of working out four times a week, I spiced up my schedule with different targeted exercises, and focused my energy and time more wisely. I became a devoted horse rider, and when I was not on the saddle I exercised on my stationary bicycle at home.
The results I achieved since I started my different routine were an eye-opening experience for me.
In both our personal lives and careers, we routinely waste time and effort doing things that do not get us to where we want to be as fast as we want to get there. When I used my workout hours differently and more effectively, I saw real results and an overall improvement in my stamina and mood.
We often get into the habit and comfort of doing the exact same thing, or conducting the same steps when processing something. It is not that we do not put an effort into it, but maybe the kind of effort involved does not translate into achieving that desired goal we have in our minds.
For instance, I walked, and did some yoga exercises, but when I did not achieve my goal, I knew something was not quite right.
Perhaps the exercises were great if I wanted to maintain my same shape and stamina, but not if I wanted to be fit and strong. That is when I knew the formula needed to change.
Work is no different. We arrive at the office in the morning to spend our days in meetings, making calls, and answering emails. And sometimes, as much as we want to, we do not see an obvious change, be it a promotion or an upgrade in our career.
But if we used that same amount of time more effectively, we could enhance our development at little or no cost.
To do so, we have to identify what can be done that would best create a major impact. We need to analyse and identify the type of actions that need to be taken, and decide which option to choose.
Having those questions answered is the first step towards developing ourselves.
The tricky part is that sometimes the right answers will entail doing something outside our comfort zone, but great results require equally great effort.
A dear friend of mine used to complain about a colleague, who frequently submitted urgent requests towards the end of the day when my friend was about to leave to pick up her children from school.
Then during one of their monthly management meetings, this colleague asked the team if there were any issues they needed to discuss with him. My friend had her chance to gently address the issue that troubled her, but she chose not to. Her colleague, unaware of what was troubling my friend, continued with his "irritating" behaviour, and my friend's suffering resumed.
The road to success is not always untroubled, and sometimes one has to face rejection, and numerous failures, before reaching a destination. But don't be discouraged.
Making bold moves and shaking things up create new opportunities. Doing what you usually do sometimes is not enough, and requires greater effort.
The main challenge is to use your time effectively to make the most out of it, and to take risks when required.
 
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and fashion designer. Follow her on Twitter: #manar_alhinai