Self-care is at the centre of the coaching I do. When the people I coach are faced with challenges whether it’s navigating an organisation or career change, or taking up a new role, I will usually ask a question about how they deal with stress or how they are sleeping as I do not believe you can forget about what is going on outside of work. Life is not like compartmentalised like in the “Severance” TV show.
So here is why I believe taking care of yourself can help you short and long term in your work life or private life too.
- Your brain works better: Regular self-care practices like quality sleep, proper nutrition, and stress management directly improve your mental clarity, focus, and decision-making abilities. When your brain functions optimally, you make better strategic choices and solve problems more effectively.
- It helps regulate your emotions and build resilience: Self-care builds your capacity to manage emotions (even the difficult ones) and work through setbacks. Leaders who are aware of their emotions and can manage them under pressure create psychological safety for their teams. You can make sound decisions even in crisis situations.
- You can manage your energy in a sustainable way: Physical and mental well-being practices can help prevent burnout, and provide the stamina needed for you to be a consistent leader. When you’re energized rather than depleted, you can fully engage with your team and give challenging situations the attention they deserve.
- You can build better relationships (maintain them more effectively): A well-rested, leader is more present, patient, and empathetic. You can tune in to the situations more easily rather than having the background noise in your head. These qualities strengthen your ability to listen actively, understand diverse perspectives, build trust, and develop meaningful connections with team members. (If you are a parent or a spouse this will help too!)
- Role modeling for yourself and your team: When you prioritise your self-care, you give implicit permission for others to do the same. This creates a healthier culture where team members feel valued as whole people, ultimately improving retention, and enhancing productivity.
By investing in your own well-being, you’re not being selfish—you’re building the foundation needed for your own health as well as to lead others effectively and sustainably.
So what steps are you taking for your own self-care?
If you want to know more about defining a self-care routine that works for you, get in touch by emailing info@whenyoumakeithappen.com or book a free 30 mins call to talk about your coaching needs here.
