Work Like is a series of articles dedicated to interviewing star performers to find out what they do to stay on top of their game.
First of all, tell us about your professional background and how you got to where you are today.
I studied medical engineering at Cairo University. After graduation, I worked in the telecom engineering field for three years, where I designed telecom networks, and at the same time, I had been professionally playing basketball for 19 years.
Seven and a half years ago, I founded Educate Me. Since then I have been working in education and I got a master’s degree in international education management.
Are you a night owl or an early riser?
Early riser.
What is your morning routine like?
I wake up, pray, drink my coffee, spend some time with my husband and daughter, and then go to work.
What is your productivity superpower?
My ability to break down a complex task into achievable little targets.
What is a time-saving shortcut or life hack you use?
I use a productivity management system called Getting Things Done and I have software and apps through which I manage my projects and tasks.
What are applications you cannot live without?
A productivity management app called OmniFocus and Google Calendar.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading a book called The Chemistry of Joy.
It’s about building resilience and how a person needs to manage many aspects of life to reach a sense of well-being. The book evaluates many areas in a person’s life: physical, emotional, and mental – each area based on many aspects, from eating and sleeping to social relations and so on, to figure out what the person should improve.
What is your work-space like?
I don’t have a dedicated workspace. I work anywhere.
What is in your bag?
Laptop, notebook, and so many colored pens. Also, my Kindle, a lot of cables, and my phone of course.
Do you listen to music while you work or do you prefer silence?
I listen to music, mostly Coldplay and covers from anyone.
How do you learn new things?
Sometimes through trying and sometimes through reading or talking to people with the knowledge.
How do you avoid burnout?
I try to start work early and finish early so that I have time at the end of the day to do something else, whether to spend time with loved ones or to play some sports. I try to travel every now and then throughout the year, and every weekend in the summer. I always do things I love that are not related to work- having conversations with people, playing sports, reading, or even colouring.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘Yasmine Helal: I try to start work early and finish early so that I have time to do something else.'” quote=”‘Yasmine Helal: I try to start work early and finish early so that I have time to do something else.'”]
Why do you do what you do?
Because I believe that we’re not in this life to just do anything. I believe that my work is nobler than something I do for money. I think it’s spiritual and what I hope for and what I try as much as I can to do is to have what I do every day aligned with what I want to do for my afterlife. Also, I wish for justice to prevail in this world and I hope through my work in education I can bring about more justice.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”‘Yasmine Helal: I believe that my work is nobler than something I do for money.'” quote=”‘Yasmine Helal: I believe that my work is nobler than something I do for money.'”]
What is the best advice you have received?
“Know your priorities.”
