MODULE 4:

Fact: If you are not taking care of yourself, you are not going to be able to take care of your team. At some point, your health, your efficiency and your energy is going to suffer. A wise woman said, “Put on your own oxygen mask first”. It’s not possible to support those around you if you are not well yourself. If you don’t have a self-care strategy, you aren’t doing yourself and the people who depend on you any favours. Even the most effective leaders feel emotionally and physically worn down sometimes. Before we go more in-depth, let’s look at some common excuses that leaders make for not engaging in self-care:

  • “Self-care is new age mumbo jumbo”. Wrong! Self-care isn’t all about lighting candles and meditating on the beach. It’s about using any strategy that works for you to improve your mental and physical health.
  • “Self-care is a luxury reserved for those people who have time on their hands”. Let’s rather look at it as an investment in your health and well-being.
  • I have other priorities”. Well, that one is easy to refute. How many of your priorities could you achieve without health and well-being?
  • “Strong people don’t need self-care”. You’re a human, not a machine! It’s not about being strong. It’s about responding proactively when you are feeling stressed out.
  • “It seems selfish”. The reality is that without self-care you lessen your effectiveness, and those around you will feel it. Self-care is a necessity.

The benefits of taking care of yourself are endless, but here are some of the key aspects to consider in terms of your role as a manager:

  • When you are in a good space, you are better able to motivate your team, thereby boosting morale.
  • It’s not possible for you to be productive in the long term if your wellbeing is not taken care of. Decreasing productivity will be detrimental for your team and the organisation.
  • Being stressed out and agitated negatively affects professional relationships and makes you come across as unapproachable, which may cause employees and not approach you with problems. That doesn’t mean the problems will go away. It just means they’ll fester until they eventually come to your attention and probably take more time to solve as a result.
  • It’s difficult to objectively handle issues when you are overwhelmed and exhausted.
  • When leaders practise self-care they signal to employees that it is OK to do the same, improving the health of the organisation.

Self-Care Strategies

Some of the best ways to take care of ourselves are simple. Think about a car that has an empty fuel tank. Eventually, it will stop moving. It’s as simple as stopping to top up with fuel. The same applies to you! You need to top up your fuel tank regularly so that you can keep going. The following are some ideas you can use for your own self-care, but essentially what we want is for these suggestions to get your creative juices flowing so that you can come up with innovative ideas that will work for you. If you are feeling very overwhelmed, start with small changes that feel achievable now. There is at least one thing that you can implement today that will make you feel better.  Here are some self-care tips to get you started:

  • A foreign concept to a lot of managers. Not only is getting enough sleep crucial to your wellbeing but so is scheduling time out to just relax. Even if it’s one hour here and there, your body and your mind need to take a break from work so that you feel refreshed. And make good use of your leave days. Don’t frantically make plans for every day that you are on leave to catch up on everything you haven’t had time to do. Make sure that you also schedule some self-care days so that you can get proper rest. You’ve earned your time off so use it well!
  • Get moving. Scheduling regular time for exercise is ideal, but if it’s something that you just can’t fit in right now that’s ok. How else can you get your body moving? Take the stairs instead of the lift. Spring clean your house. Take the dogs for a quick walk. Don’t look for the closest parking to the door. Run around outside with the kids. The list is endless! The added benefit is that getting some exercise will boost your energy levels.
  • It’s OK not to be OK. In fact, it’s absolutely normal to not be OK from time to time so learn to ask for help. From the small things to the big things. If you’ve been feeling down for a long time and think you might be depressed, see a therapist. If you’re struggling to manage the household and your workload, make a roster of chores that need to be done at home and get your family involved – kids included! If your finances are seriously stressing you out, speak to a financial advisor to find out how you can start getting on top of it. You get the gist.
  • Stay connected with family and friends. It’s easy to get so carried away with work that before you know it months have gone by since you connected with the important people in your life. Family and friends are one of your biggest support structures. Don’t neglect them.
  • What happens if you fill up a petrol car with diesel? It breaks! You need the right fuel! To maintain your energy levels and feel well you need to be putting the right things in your body. Try to eat well most of the time and don’t use being too busy as an excuse. It’s just as quick and easy to grab an apple as it is to buy a samoosa from the garage. Keep a jug of water on your desk so that you aren’t tempted to drink soda and sugar-laden fruit juice. Keep your fridge at home stocked with healthy options – this has never been easier due to all the online shopping options we have available. Your diet doesn’t need to be perfect, but if there is room for improvement it is a worthwhile area to focus on.
  • Focus on what you enjoy in life. It’s not all about work, work, work. What else makes you feel energised and fulfilled? Make time for that and work towards doing more of it.
  • Set boundaries. As a leader, you may think that you have to be everything to everyone. Well, you don’t. Time is a limited resource. It’s OK to say “No” sometimes. And it’s OK to delegate.
  • Be aware of your mindset. Focusing only on what is not going well and what is difficult is draining. There are things in your life that are going well or that you are doing well at. There are things to be grateful for. Balance the negative with the positive. Be aware of how you are speaking to yourself. If your “self-speak” is predominantly negative, be more conscious of the impact it has on how you feel and what you could do to improve it.
  • Punctuate your workday with small breaks. Stop to have a refreshing glass of water. Take time to have a five-minute catch up with a colleague. Eat lunch in the canteen. You can’t just go, go, go. If it feels like you don’t have the time, then make the time.

Only you can ensure that you are getting the self-care that you need. Self-care is unique for everyone, and it’s up to you to come up with what works for you. Consistent self-care will not only improve your mental and physical well-being but will make you a more effective leader. Investing in your own well-being will inspire those around you to do the same, making a healthier and happier organisation.

LifeAssist is here to support you on your journey of self-care. From diet to exercise to mental health we have you covered!