I’ve spent the past few years working closely with leaders on incorporating self-care into their work lives — as a key component of their overall performance — so that an expansion in their role or responsibilities doesn’t come at the expense of their health and well-being. One CEO I worked with summed it up best when he said: “Self-care is no longer a luxury; it’s part of the job.”
6 Ways to Weave Self-Care into Your Workday
Self-care is no longer a luxury for busy leaders; it’s part of the job. But what exactly is self-care and how do you do it? At the heart of self-care is your relationship and connection to self; it means that you understand what you need to be your most constructive, effective, and authentic self. Therefore, rather than defining self-care narrowly as just physical health (which is an important piece of the equation), you need to pay attention to a wider set of criteria, including care of the mind, emotions, relationships, environment, time, and resources. Rather than having self-care be something “outside” of work, it’s important to weave it naturally into the course of your workday. To do so, make peace with your inner critic and cut yourself a break. Recharge throughout the week — make sure you’re getting enough sleep and time with the people who boost your mood. Protect your thinking time, celebrate small successes as they occur, and learn to notice when you’ve started slipping out of self-care mode.