As leaders, we quite naturally spend a great deal of our time and focus taking care of others, our businesses, our families and our people. So it isn’t surprising that more than a few leaders aren’t so great at taking care of themselves.
Why is this kind of self-care so tough for so many of us to do? First, we are legitimately busy. I know everyone likes to say “oh, I’m so busy,” but the leaders I know are truly busy. When you are busy, it’s easy to shift your own needs to the bottom of that very large pile.
It isn’t surprising that more than a few leaders aren’t so great at taking care of themselves.
But here lies the challenge: if you don’t make the time to take care of yourself, your capacity to help others will diminish over time.
You can become tired—the kind of tired a nap or a good night’s sleep can’t fix. Burnout and pessimism can creep in, which is unusual for leaders whose eyes are usually fixed on possibilities and opportunities.
As leaders, we have to remember that despite our drive, vision and work ethic, we aren’t robots. We need to make sure we are somewhere on the list of people and priorities that deserve care.
As leaders, we have to remember that despite our sometimes superhuman drive, vision and work ethic, we aren’t robots.
And really, how can we effectively lead others, set a good example and create environments where human needs are recognized if we can’t do these things for ourselves first?
Think about what your own needs are. What are the things that make you feel good, supported and fulfilled?
It might be spending time with your family, watching a movie that helps you decompress after a stressful day, committing to regular exercise, going to bed earlier, eating better or keeping up with preventative health checkups.
For many of us, it also means nurturing the relationships that inspire us to lead in the first place—making time for spouses, partners, children and close friends.
Listen, you can’t surf the same wave over and over again without eventually getting bored of it, no matter how great it felt the first time.
The best leaders understand that if we don’t take time to check in with ourselves and care for our own needs, our leadership abilities will eventually suffer.
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential if you want to be of service to others.
And part of self-care also means keeping yourself inspired. Chances are that if you are in a leadership role, something or someone inspired you along the way.
If you stop seeking inspiration, work can start to feel like just work.
So continue to look for new sources of inspiration, keep your curiosity alive, and sharpen your sense of purpose so you remain energized for the next step.