National Work Life Week  Make space for your health

National Work Life Week is a reminder that balance isn’t just about how we organise our working day. It’s also about making space for our own health and wellbeing, and reviewing your health cover is one practical place to start.

Take out a Bupa By You health insurance policy through Insured Health by 31 October 2026 and you’ll be entered automatically into a prize draw* to win your choice of a Maldives escape, a Florida golf break or a Caribbean cruise. What’s more, the usual IoD member discounts, including 10% off** new policies, still apply during this prize draw period.

If you’re lucky enough to win, you’ll want to make the most of every moment away. But for business leaders, switching off isn’t always as simple as boarding a flight. A little preparation can make it easier to step back from your desk both physically and mentally.

Protecting your work-life balance before time away:

Put the time away in the diary as soon as you can

For most directors, there will always be another meeting, deadline or decision demanding attention. Blocking out leave early helps ensure time away remains a priority rather than something that gets pushed back.

Name a deputy out loud

Not in your head. To them, and to everyone else. Half the reason cover doesn’t exist is that nobody was ever formally asked.

Decide in advance what counts as an emergency

Write it down. Tell your team. Then leave everything that isn’t on the list alone. Vagueness is what drags you back in, not genuine crises.

Take it in pieces

Given how fast the benefit fades, three or four shorter breaks across the year will serve you better than one enormous one you spend the first three days decompressing from.

Finally, remember. Your team is watching

In IoD research with Bupa, 93% of directors agreed that directors should play a role in promoting wellbeing in their organisation, and around 89% saw a link between their own health and how the business performs.⁽¹⁾

Where cover comes in 

Good preparation can protect your boundaries, but it can’t prevent every health concern. When work is busy, it can be tempting to put symptoms off or wait for a quieter time that never quite arrives. Private health insurance can help you act sooner and find support that fits around your working life.

That could mean using a digital GP appointment before you travel, accessing mental health support when pressure is building or reaching specialist care when you need further advice. The value is not simply having a policy in place; it is knowing you have clearer options when you need reassurance or treatment.

Taking care of yourself can make it easier to bring your best to work without allowing work to crowd out everything else. That’s the thinking behind our the prize draw: making time to step away, recharge and enjoy life beyond work.

How to enter the prize draw:

• New customers: Take out a Bupa By You health insurance policy through Insured Health by 31 October 2026 to be entered automatically
• Existing customers: Email Insured Health by 31 October 2026
• No purchase necessary: Enter by post by 31 October 2026

See prize draw terms and conditions* below for full details

Source  

(1) IoD member survey conducted with Bupa, 2024

Terms and conditions 

*Prize draw terms and conditions apply. See: https://insuredhealth.co.uk/Relax-Sail-Golf-TC.pdf

**Applies to eligible Institute of Directors members on quotes for new Bupa By You policies, and is not available in conjunction with any other offer (e.g. months free, guided care options). Discount will be reviewed on 22/10/2026 and any changes will apply to renewals and new quotes thereafter. Quotes are valid for 14 days. Terms and conditions apply.

†Families pay 10% less for a joint policy compared to the price of separate policies for each family member. Cover must include at least one adult and one or more children. Children do not have to live at the same address as the main member. This offer applies to the Bupa By You Comprehensive and Treatment and Care health insurance policies. This offer may change or be unavailable when you renew. Terms and conditions apply.

††Add more than one child under 20 years old to your policy and you’ll only pay for the eldest child, no matter how many more children you add. Children aged 20 or over cannot receive free cover or count as an ‘eldest child’ for this offer. Cover must include at least two children aged 19 or under. You’ll still receive our 10% family discount if you have free child cover. Children do not have to live at the same address as the main member. This offer may change or be unavailable when you renew. This offer applies to the Bupa By You Comprehensive and Treatment and Care health insurance policies. This offer may change or be unavailable when you renew. See full terms and conditions here.

Institute of Directors is an introducer to Insured Health Ltd. Insured Health Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No: 9886202. Registered office: Saville House, 74-90 Savile Street, Sheffield, S4 7UD.

Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales with registration number 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales with registration number 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.