The foundations of self-care
It’s really easy to get caught in up life and forget to prioritise your own self-care.
Self-care is critical as it is what helps us show up and be present. When we look after ourselves we have the energy we need to get things done.
A recent report by Deloitte and independent research firm Workplace Intelligence indicates that employees and senior executives are struggling to prioritise their well-being. It found that one out of three are constantly struggling with fatigue and poor mental health, and the main reason they aren’t prioritising themselves is due to a heavy workload, stressful job and a lack of time due to long work hours.
As leaders, we have a responsibility to care for ourselves first. A lot of livelihoods rely on us. Our staff, our colleagues, our families.
However, with so many of us feeling like we are stuck in survival mode, it can be hard to know where to turn and what to do first.
A lot of people think self-care needs to be expensive. Or that it is all about champagne, massages and pedicures. It’s not – not that I would say no to any of those! Self-care is really about creating the time and space to focus on yourself.
Self-care also looks different for everyone. What’s soothing to me could be stressful to you. One of my most effective self-care methods is to have a walk on the beach and a quick swim in the ocean. It restores my energy and refreshes me enormously. Some of my friends love a pyjama day in front of Netflix. One of my clients loves bushwalking. Others go for long bike rides.
One of the biggest mistakes we often make is that we manage our time not our energy. We are so often led to believe that we need to work longer hours to get more done, whereas what we really need to do is manage our energy levels, as this will have a positive impact on our productivity.
We need to be aware of what gives us energy and what saps our energy and how this relates to self-care. This includes:
eating the right foods
staying hydrated and not overdoing it with caffeine and alcohol
getting enough sleep and rest
exercise and general movement
managing our stress levels
doing things that spark joy (and Marie Kondo-ing as many things as possible that don’t!).
The list above can seem overwhelming when you’re pooped. Rather than thinking you need to do it all at once, can I suggest you pick one and go from there.
And if you’re looking for a suggestion as to where to start, then start with doing something that gives you joy. Whether it’s a walk in the [very] fresh air, spending time with someone you love, or, as a few people said in a webinar I ran recently, spending time in the chocolate aisle at Aldi (written as I gobble down some Lindt chocolate I found while reorganising my office yesterday)!
How is your energy today? And what self-care activities will you do if you need an energy boost?
