Read Mathilda’s thoughts on it

In today’s busy lives, many of us wrestle with finding the right balance each day. Mathilda Smith, who has been with Epical for 2.5 years, not only works full-time as a consultant, but has also achieved an impressive work-life balance by winning the Finnish Championship in Wellness Fitness.

We were curious to hear her story, learn how she excels in both areas, and get her advice on how we can all adopt a mindset for a better work-life balance.

💙 Introduce yourself briefly. Who are you, and what is your current role at Epical?

My name is Mathilda, and I am currently working as a consultant at Epical. I started in August 2023 and now have nearly five years of experience in the consultancy world. I began my career in May 2021, and since then I have worked in a multitude of different data roles.

💙 Could you describe what your typical workday includes?

My typical workday includes consulting with clients, discussing their needs, as well as what is realistic and within what timeframe. I then produce the reports requested by the client and manage the data that is displayed in those reports.

💙 You have recently had great success in Wellness Fitness competitions. How did you manage excelling at work and in fitness competitions at the same time?

It is easy to say that motivation is the reason for my success, but the reality is that it takes much more than that. Discipline is the key driver. Once I decided that I wanted success in both my career and bodybuilding, I knew I would make it happen. The most important factor was time management, and making sure I stuck to my schedule.

💙 What drives your dedication to both work and fitness goals?

My dedication comes from my drive to always succeed. At the same time, I am not afraid to fail. Being afraid of failure limits people in every aspect of their lives.

In fact, the beginning of my competition season started with failure. My first two competitions, which were my very first competition season ever, went really badly. In the moment, I felt like throwing in the towel, but I decided to keep pushing. That decision eventually led to the title of Finnish Champion. From there, I went on to the World Championships and placed sixth. This was a huge achievement for me and something I am very proud of.

Looking ahead, I know that I can balance my work with this fitness lifestyle, and I trust that the process will work itself out.

💙 How does your work environment contribute to your success in both work and wellness?

The positivity and support from my team have played a big role in keeping me motivated. Coworkers cheering me on, following my results online, and being genuinely happy on my behalf made me realize that I have had their support from the very beginning, and that it will continue when I compete again in the future.

Being able to work remotely while attending the World Championships further confirmed that Epical supports both me and my hobbies, and truly allows me to pursue my dreams while still putting in a full day’s work.

💙 Do you have any advice for those trying to balance work and personal wellness?

Make sure to draw a clear line for where work fits into your life. If you start work early in the morning, do not feel obligated to stay late in the evening just because others do. Work can be a priority, and it should be, but remember that we work to live, not live to work.