In our busy lives and careers that often demand constant productivity, resilience and adaptability, challenging times can take a heavy toll on our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Whether you’re facing a new role, leading others through times of change at work or stressful times in your personal life, the stress can feel overwhelming. This is where self-care becomes an essential tool to navigate through it. In this blog we will explore self-care in more depth as well as the importance of self-care specifically as a leader.
Self-Care Definition
Self-care is a conscious act of prioritising your wellbeing through practices that restore your energy, calm your mind and support your body. It can be a way of thinking, a mindset that takes care of you as a priority, in addition to physical actions. For example, this can include everything from getting enough sleep to setting boundaries, exercising, eating nourishing food and seeking coaching or other forms of support to reflect. It can also be the way we view and approach the world. For example, thinking well of ourselves and others through self-compassion rather than being overly critical, as well as using failures and mistakes as learning opportunities rather than catastrophising.
Stress Management
During tough times, stress levels can spike, leading to burnout, anxiety and even physical illness. Self-care helps regulate your stress response by calming your nervous system. By creating a specific set of self-care practices that work for you we can create moments to pause, regroup and respond rather than react.
Preserving Mental Wellbeing
Self-care acts as a buffer between you and the chaos around you. It’s a way to ground yourself when everything else feels unstable. Setting time aside to check in with yourself, emotionally and mentally, can prevent feelings of negativity from taking root. In coaching sessions, we notice our own thoughts and feelings, as we take time to slow down from the busy world and we get to investigate ways to manage and process how we feel.
I recently led a leader as coach programme and there was resounding feedback that the programme had supported leaders to take time out to reflect on themselves and how they were showing up in the workplace. This had a profound impact on their presence and doesn’t have to take long, sometimes a few intentional minutes before a meeting can be all it takes to check in with ourselves to show up even more fully.
Sustaining Energy and Focus
When life gets overwhelming, even small tasks can feel monumental. Self-care replenishes your energy reserves so you can face challenges with a clearer mind and more stamina. Without it, you’re running on empty. The saying “put your own oxygen mask on before helping others” resonates here, in that the first step is to be in good shape yourself, and then your team will benefit from your role modelling.
One leader I worked with recently decided to have a “check in” moment at the beginning of her team meetings, she used the time wisely to enable them to share and connect at a human level. She noted that this had a powerful impact on sustaining focus as the team were listened to, not just at a work level but as individuals too.
Empowering Yourself
In challenging times, we often feel powerless. Self-care is an act of reclaiming control over your thoughts, actions and wellbeing. Choosing to care for yourself is a reminder that you still have agency, even when external circumstances are chaotic. A recent leader I worked with used his coaching sessions to regularly remind himself of the things he had control over and by focusing on these he found it greatly empowering.
Improving Relationships
When you care for yourself, you’re more present and compassionate with others. Self-care strengthens your ability to support those around you without depleting yourself. Remember: you can’t pour from an empty cup. A recent client noticed that by being honest with others close to her about how she was feeling then allowed others to be honest with her. This dramatically improved the quality of her relationships at work.
Building Resilience
Self-care doesn’t eliminate challenges; it builds the internal resources you need to weather them. Over time, consistent self-care helps develop resilience, your ability to bounce back and grow stronger from adversity.
Self-Care as a leader
Self-care is crucial as a leader not just for personal wellbeing, but for the health and effectiveness of the entire team or organisation. The leader sets the tone for the whole team, almost like a mirror. Clarity of decision making improves too, as looking after ourselves enhances cognitive function. Leadership requires empathy, patience, and strong interpersonal skills.
When you’re depleted, it’s harder to stay calm under pressure, respond constructively to challenges, or support others emotionally. Self-care strengthens emotional resilience and presence. During crises or transitions, teams look to leaders for stability and reassurance. Leaders who are rested and grounded are better able to manage their own stress and serve as a calming, strategic force for others.
In summary
In challenging times, taking care of yourself is one of the most courageous and impactful things you can do. It creates a solid foundation that allows you not just to endure, but to move forward with clarity, energy and compassion.
A leader who is in tune with their own needs is often more compassionate, self-aware and authentic. This builds trust and strengthens relationships with team members.
In short, self-care is not selfish, it’s a leadership responsibility. By prioritising your own wellbeing, you enhance your capacity to lead others wisely, effectively and compassionately.
As you start to reflect on your self-care approach, I would love to hear what works for you. If you would value a sounding board to explore self-care more then do get in touch to see how 1:1 leadership coaching sessions can support you.