Here's how you can prioritize self-care while maintaining high performance at work.

One of the steps I've found effective is to set aside time in my calendar for focus work - typically time in the morning and evening as well as a spot midday to walk the dog. This approach ensures you have time to think, reflect and rejuvenate - which are all necessary to continue to excel at work.

Always plan the work with the start of the workday. It will give us the idea what are the tasks and how we can prioritize based on the submission. It will help to set boundaries, give the clarity about the work hours. Take the proper break time for food away from the screen as per the company's policy. Read the newsletters and mindful things related to work or anything that can help to boost your knowledge.

Not everyone will respect your boundaries, but it is crucial that you do. Early in my career, I was criticized for not canceling an appointment to extend a meeting simply because I was in charge. I refuse to let myself burn out by ignoring my own boundaries, and I expect my leaders to do the same. Times have changed—being an effective leader no longer means working from sunup to sundown. Your job should not be the most important part of your life, and modeling that balance for your team is vital. Teach them the importance of maintaining boundaries, and you’ll be amazed at how their performance and satisfaction improve. Prioritizing balance not only enhances productivity but also fosters a healthier, more sustainable work environment.

Self-care isn't selfish—it's strategic. To excel at work, you must first invest in yourself. High performance is sustainable only when fueled by well-being. Here's how to make it happen: Schedule it: Treat self-care like any other critical meeting. Block time for exercise, healthy meals, rest, and activities that recharge you. Set boundaries: Clearly define work hours and stick to them. Protect your personal time. Recharge regularly: Take short breaks throughout the day. Step away from your desk, move around, and clear your head. Schedule vacations and use them fully to disconnect and rejuvenate. Find your "flow": Identify activities that both challenge and energize you. Engage in them regularly.

Prioritize self-care while maintaining high performance by: 1. Set Boundaries: Define clear work hours and stick to them. 2. Take Breaks: Use techniques like the Pomodoro method to take regular short breaks. 3. Stay Active: Incorporate physical activity, like a quick walk or stretching, into your routine. 4. Healthy Diet: Opt for nutritious meals and stay hydrated throughout the day. 5. Manage Stress: Practice mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress. 6. Seek Support: Utilize company resources, like wellness programs or counseling services if needed 7. Disconnect: Unplug from work-related devices during personal time to recharge fully. Balancing self-care and work ensures sustained high performance and long-term well-being.

Imagine working at a high-paced agency with what seems to be endless emails, numerous phone calls, staff concerns, and never ending work. But, by prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries, you can ensure that your time and energy are respected and valued. Break your day down into sections. What do you have to look forward to in the mornings? That could be getting settled into your office/work space, making coffee, having a light breakfast, or getting organized for the morning. Ensure others know that you will come to them once you are settled for any questions. Do the same with your afternoon (midday breaks, lunch, converse with co-workers, etc.), and then end the day with a hard stop at a particular time.

Plan your time off. Make sure you work on your self maintenance across the year. Shutting down makes us calm, it rises our creativity and recharge our batteries to start again fresh and motivated

Plan regular breaks and downtime throughout your day and week to prioritize self-care and maintain peak performance at work—short ones between tasks and longer ones for hobbies after work. Use this downtime to relax, unwind, disconnect from work-related stress, and do things that make you feel awesome. Taking care of yourself like this will surely boost your energy and keep you on top of your game at work.

Schedule self care in your diary. We never not turn up to meetings and events but often we don't turn up for ourselves. Color code "me time" and remember it does not always have to have a purpose. Start off with 2 blocks a wee and increase this and build habits around this as you go.

Create sustainable self care habits. Once you know what the habits are, set a trigger and then always look at the reward. For instance if walking early morning is a habit-the alarm at 6am and the runners at the door are your triggers. The walk is the habit. The reward is you feel fresh and ready for the day.

Tus hábitos son aquellas cosas que repites todos los días sin tener que pensar por qué lo estás haciendo,. Para generar hábitos saludables de una manera estable, tendrás que empezar por convencerte de que lo que buscas es llevar una vida más sana. Crear un ecosistema en el que los hábitos puedan incluirse y verse en contexto te ayudará a mantener los comportamientos. No hay mejor hábito que hacer deporte, y es el que más olvidamos todos (yo incluido). Parece que pegarse la paliza uno o dos días por semana "compensa" todo lo demás, pero la ciencia ha demostrado no sólo que no sea así, sino que es contraproducente. Abandona las pantallas antes de ir a dormir, o mejor abandónalas. Tu cuidado físico te mantendrá sano emocionalmente.

To make self-care a priority while still rocking it at work, start by setting aside time just for you—like taking daily walks, chilling out with meditation, or switching off from work emails after hours. Keep a clear line between work and personal time to recharge properly. Build healthy habits into your routine, get some exercise and eat well. Don't forget to take some time to think about what boosts your energy too, and don't hesitate to pass tasks to others when needed. Remember, taking care of yourself makes you even better at what you do.

When you are a busy leader the first thing that often gets dropped when you have deadlines is your own well being. We've all been guilty of this but its important to remember that when we are balanced in how we approach our work life and deadlines / juggling a lot of work we perform better. From speaking with other leaders when you are operating at full capacity (and over capacity) for a long period for time our mind suffers and feels so full we can't provide the best answers on challenges or supporting others. Adopting mindfulness as part of your day doesn't have to take long. It can start by taking just 5 minutes away from your desk and sitting outside in fresh air and getting vitamin D while you take a cup of tea/coffee Start small.

Nuestro cerebro está pre-programado para automatizar. No es capaz de procesar los millones de bits de información que le llegan por segundo, de modo que para mantenernos vivos genera hábitos inconscientes. La parte negativa de esto es que tendemos a vivir en "piloto automático", lo que nos lleva al estrés y a no ocuparnos de nosotros y nuestras necesidades. Ser consciente no significa dejar la mente en blanco, significa hacerte capaz de dirigir tu mente allí donde quieres que esté en cada momento, que se ocupe con lo que tu quieres y no con lo que ella decida. La mente es un elefante dirigido por un mono loco. Si eres capaz de sustituir ese mono por tu control, tendrás a tu disposición un poderoso aliado.

Delegating serves two purposes 1. You are offloaded 2. You help others grow But there is a warning flag. If you push down boring stuff and/or burn out your people you have not shown sustainable leadership. Also, be aware of the risk of abdicating when you think you are delegating. These two are not the same

Use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance. Focus on tasks that are both urgent and important, while delegating non-urgent and less important items to team members. This matrix, named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, helps you prioritize effectively and avoid taking on too much. When delegating, provide clear instructions and deadlines to ensure tasks are completed successfully. Regular check-ins with team members can help monitor progress and address any issues that arise.

From speaking with other leaders, I've found operating at full capacity for long periods overwhelms our minds, hindering our ability to provide optimal support or solutions. Since being a leader in 2001, I've observed that leaders were often expected to work long hours & appear busy and stressed, creating a belief that this was the hallmark of great leadership. Initially, I did the same, but I changed when I started my own organisation. I prioritised well-being, implementing a well-being policy & integrating activities into our weekly routine. By consistently leading by example, I ensured our future leaders understood prioritising well-being was the most effective leadership style, fostering a healthier & more productive work environment.

Start thinking about prioritizing self-care before you say "yes" to the job or the company. Having been in the workforce for over 30 years, one thing that has become most important to me is to find a company or job that aligns with my personal values. That includes self-care. I make it a point to ask questions about time-off, the culture, wellness benefits, and how leadership sets their own priorities. This gives me a better view of the values that they hold dear and not just posted on the wall. From there, you can decide if you would be a good fit based on your own priorities.

Think long term. Prioritize and be intentional on the areas that you focus your time and energy on. Be strategic in taking on work aligned to creating high impact and achieving high performance.

In prioritizing self-care, remember to set clear boundaries for work and personal time. Incorporate short, mindful breaks throughout the day to recharge. Hydration and nutrition are key; choose water and healthy snacks. Lastly, digital detoxes can reduce stress and improve sleep, enhancing overall well-being.