What are some resources to integrate self-care into your coaching and mentoring practices?

I've found that for my own self-care, it is useful to keep a To-Do List. I annotate the blue-chip, most important items to accomplish on the list. As I work the list, I keep a running update and leave the completed items on the list. For self-care, I take a break and review the items I've completed. It can be energizing to see the thing you thought were insurmountable tasks completed. If others helped with those items, I take a few minutes and send a note or call them to say thank you. When mentoring others, I look at personality profiles (MB, DISC or LSI) and encourage the mentees to identify short activities, that fit with their profile, to will help them recharge.

Lists and calendar reminders help to keep me grounded in the chaos life throws at us sometimes. For years I kept a running list in a composition notebook and on the first day of each month I would create a new list of the incomplete and dropping off the completed. I used Excel for this sort of thing at work and shared it during staff meetings with assigned names. No one wanted to see there assignment continue to move upward and incomplete but it helped to remind them. It was a good thing. I have found at times when I let the chaos run out of control I would begin to feel paralyzed and overwhelmed. It also helps to not only get the high priority issues addressed but to address the easy to do items along the way to feel accomplishment.

For me to be consistent in my own self-care needs, I block off time in my calendar in the mornings as a non-negotiable. Before I do any work or look at social media I spend time working out or meditating and then follow with some other holistic health practices. By blocking time for myself I have become more consistent in sticking to this ritual and now it is a wonderful habit that I automatically take action in.

A simple, but important, step is to reflect on the healthy behaviors that you want to maintain as well as the behaviors that are an indicator that you're trending in the wrong direction. Once you identify and document these behaviors, you can then empower your peers, your manager or mentor to help you recognize those patterns, heed the warning signs and stay accountable for adjusting your behavior as necessary.

Setting boundaries and limits is important not only for your own wellness, but for your team as well. As leaders, we need to recognize that our behavior sets tone for those we manage. Failing to maintain and model reasonable boundaries may send the unintended message that everyone on the team is expected to ignore these boundaries and risk burnout. As servant leaders, we need to recognize that our actions speak louder than our words. By setting boundaries, we give our team members reassurance that they can and should set boundaries, too.

To integrate self-care into coaching and mentoring, consider resources like mindfulness apps or exercises and tools for goal setting and reflection (e.g., journaling). Additionally, exploring 1) time management techniques, 2) personalized wellness plans, 3) encouraging healthy sleep habits, 4) short breaks for stress relief & relaxation, and 5) overall positive psychology principles and resilience-building exercises… These can really enhance the well-being focus of clients during and after coaching and mentoring sessions.

When we don't maintain reasonable self-care, we risk burning out, and ultimately cannot show-up well for the teams we manage or our loved ones outside of work. As servant leaders, we need to recognize that our health and wellbeing has a direct impact on our ability to help others.