Here's how you can balance self-care and the demands of leadership.

Get everything you are worried about out of your head onto a list. 💡 Plan every day. 💡 Plan every week. 💡 Plan every season. Find the way and time that works for you and turn it into a habit.

As you master prioritization, take accountability for your self care. Self care must be just as critical as productivity. Without one, you won’t achieve the other.

You cannot give what you do not have. As a leader, unless you spend adequate time replenishing your own reserves - the fuel which allows you to keep going and keep giving - you will soon run empty.

1 Leading by Example: I set clear expectations about my work hours and stick to them as much as possible. 2 Respect for Others' Boundaries: I encourage my team to establish and communicate their work-life boundaries. 3 Focus on Results, Not Time Spent: I evaluate performance based on results achieved, not the number of hours someone works. 4 Promoting Efficiency and Focus: I encourage focused work sessions and prioritize clear communication to avoid unnecessary meetings or email chains. This frees up time for both myself and my team.

As a professional makeup artist for several years and now a care provider who helps the harmed, it is very easy to suffer from vicarious trauma. It is vital for those in high demanding careers to practice healthy and consistent self-care. I like to recommend to my clients, friends and family to have a routine. Engage in any activities that bring you peace, joy, excitement, motivation, and curiosity. Switching it up with the seasons, adapting it to weather conditions or being able to adapt and fluctuate with nuanced flexibility. Whether that be a long talk with a best friend, spending time in nature, spa day, equality outing with the children, wearing clothes that make you feel your best, or simply making time for skin care and makeup.

You cannot take care of or lead others if you do not take care of yourself. There’s also a major misconception that the more hours you work the more you get done. There is clear data that shows the longer your hours the less productive you become. Balance is key and self care is key to being an effective leader. You have to have separate and time to reflect and be thoughtful about decisions. You have to rest and step away to be sharp during the hours you are working. You have to have enough sleep and be healthy to give your all to others. If you can’t work reasonable hours and trust your team to their part, then things aren’t working well.

The second I read “self care” I clicked this article. As I was reading, this specific paragraph stood out to me. One thing I’ve done throughout my HR tenure is normalizing specifically timed coffee runs, phone time on either LinkedIn or messages and a walk around the office floor. Granted, this only applied for scenarios I was in where I was working at “peak” hours or very busy hours. Those little moments I would plan would give me something to look forward to and would incentive me to work harder task by task. All in the name of wellness. I’m aware this won’t work for all but I wanted to share it worked with me.

As a practice, leaders are adept in prioritising the order of work items. But, when do we feel it is demanding? When it is not aligned to your plan. Being flexible in your plan is a key mindset that leaders should adopt. This paves for a balanced approach of looking at things and allows one to not fall prey to the self pity mood. Maintaining a cheerful mindset by being flexible to changes in plan is surely a path towards self care.

Prioritize, Not Eliminate: Self-care isn't about neglecting work, but scheduling activities that recharge you. Prioritize small, daily self-care acts like healthy meals or breaks. Boundaries are Key: Set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Disconnect after hours and delegate tasks where possible. Find Your Rejuvenation: Identify activities that energize you - exercise, hobbies, spending time with loved ones. Schedule them and treat them as important as meetings. Lead by Example: Encourage self-care within your team. Promote healthy work-life balance and respect for personal time. By integrating self-care into your routine, you'll be a more resilient and inspirational leader.