You’re a CEO or COO, a self-made entrepreneur or an all-around incredible leader. The job you have says a lot about your willingness to go the extra mile for your company, but does it say the same about how much you’re willing to do for yourself? When was the last time you put your personal needs before your professional responsibilities?
Many high-level leaders get so wrapped in work obligations that we forget to take care of ourselves. And it makes sense with your dedication to your career that you may have given up on things that seemed to take your focus away from the office. In fact, I was guilty of this for the longest time during my own whirlwind rise. I worked 80 hour weeks and prided myself on it, boasting that I was hustling and that was why I was earning six figures every month — and then my health deteriorated to a dangerous place.
At the time, I thought it came out of nowhere. I was so worried about moving backward in my career that I didn’t realize how poorly I'd been treating my body and mind. Looking back, I believe my illness was inevitable because I refused to stop and take better care of myself.
While it can be difficult for high-level executives to see the value in self-care, the truth is that it’s non-negotiable if you expect to maintain success for any amount of time. The fact is that self-care is self-discipline. Because if you’re not in peak condition, you’re not leading anyone. And you’re definitely not doing your best work.
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care means taking action to preserve or improve your mental and/or physical health. But unlike what you may have heard before now, self-care isn't all facials and pedicures. Rather, self-care is any beneficial action or activity you do to help alleviate stress.
Getting enough sleep, eating healthy food and hitting the gym can all be considered self-care. Engaging in a hobby, reading or stepping outside when work gets particularly demanding are also valid techniques to keep the pressure at bay.
While most of those activities may feel like easy add-ins to our days, I've noticed that many leaders think that by focusing all of their energy on work, they’ll avoid stress. What they’re actually doing is neglecting themselves, which can, in turn, cause stress to increase. And that can simultaneously waylay their leadership effectiveness.
For me, self-care became only working Monday through Friday and taking weekends off to enjoy my family. I stopped working every night until midnight and started cooking dinner with my husband and kids. I started spending more time outside with my animals, a passion of mine. None of these things were revolutionary acts by themselves, yet they helped me heal physically and mentally.
The Dangers Of Too Much Stress
Chronic stress happens when you're dealing with near constant stress over a long period of time. According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic stress can increase your risk of having health issues including depression, anxiety, headaches, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep problems, memory impairment and more. This means that not managing your stress could actually curtail your career in the long run.
Self-Care Strategies For Leaders
Stop seeing self-care as a task, and start seeing it as a necessity. This shift in perspective can help you figure out which self-care strategies work best for you. If you haven’t had a hobby in years, you might need to do some brainstorming.
• What hobbies, arts or activities have you heard about that have piqued your interest?
• Do you love a particular sport that you can begin playing again?
• Where can you fit a 15-minute walk into your schedule?
• How do you feel about keeping a journal or adult coloring book in your office?
• Honestly, have you allowed your mental health to get so far out of hand that you might need to consider seeing a therapist or a coach who can teach you techniques for coping with stress?
Checking in with yourself by answering these questions can help you feel more prepared to create your own self-care activities outside of work. You might also want to have a few options for self-care during work hours. Consider encouraging your employees to participate in such activities too.
Here are some activities that are designed for an office space with limited room to move and for people with limited time to do them:
• Use an adjustable desk. One study found that alternating between sitting and standing increased workers sense of well-being and energy.
• Praise yourself for accomplishments.
• Host healthy challenges, like a step or water intake competition.
• Encourage yourself to take a small break after completing a task.
My own experience with chronic stress and neglecting my body is both a cautionary tale and proof that self-care is non-negotiable for everyone in a leadership position. Your success may depend on how much time you’re willing to invest in your own mental and physical well-being. We get one body. As true leaders, it's our job to fuel it and care for it as well as we possibly can in order to effectively do our jobs the best way we know how.
