Five Mindset Shifts to Help Leaders Embrace Self-Care

Leaders often struggle with self-care, but adopting these five mindset shifts can change that. Start by creating a body budget, manage emotional health, identify choice points, and prioritize growth and nourishment. Regular practice of a personalized plan ensures long-term success.

458 words ~ 2 min. read

In today's fast-paced business environment, many leaders know the importance of self-care but often fail to implement it in their daily routines. Why? Because they overlook the necessary mindset shifts that support sustainable self-care practices. In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Paulena Neale explores how leaders can use a simple checklist to help take better care of themselves and, in turn, their teams. The five-part checklist below offers you a summary of Neale’s most important points. Read on to learn how you can transform self-care from a wish into a reality.

1. Make a Body Budget

Just like managing financial budgets, leaders need to maintain a "body budget" — the balance of physical, mental, and emotional energy. This concept is essential for self-care because leaders often run on fumes without realizing it. Tracking physical activity, rest, and nutrition can prevent burnout before it happens. Leaders must recognize that maintaining their body’s resources is as important as managing company resources.

2. Manage Emotional Health

Leaders are responsible for setting the emotional tone of their teams, yet managing their own emotional health often takes a backseat. Regular emotional check-ins are key. Strategies such as mindfulness, journaling, or therapy can help leaders stay emotionally grounded, reducing the risk of decision fatigue or emotional burnout. Healthy leaders foster healthier teams.

3. Identify Choice Points

Throughout the day, leaders face decision points that determine the quality of their self-care. Learning to recognize these "choice points" is critical. For example, when feeling overwhelmed, the choice might be between continuing to grind through work or stepping away for a moment to recharge. Identifying when you're at a crossroad can allow you to make decisions that support your well-being without sacrificing leadership performance.

4. Prioritize Growth and Nourishment

Effective leaders constantly seek personal and professional growth. But growth requires more than just accumulating new skills. Nourishment is about engaging in activities that refresh and inspire. For some, that might mean pursuing hobbies, reading for pleasure, or spending time in nature. Leaders should find what nourishes them and protect time for these activities. Regular nourishment enhances creativity, resilience, and leadership clarity.

5. Personalize Your Plan and Practice It Regularly

No two leaders have the same needs, so self-care must be personalized. Crafting a plan that reflects your unique responsibilities, strengths, and preferences is essential. Once you have a plan, the key is consistency. Just as you wouldn’t skip out on critical meetings, don’t skip self-care. It’s an investment that will pay off in your ability to lead effectively over the long term.

These mindset shifts are more than just wellness tips—they are foundational to becoming a resilient and impactful leader. In the same way leaders strategize for business growth, they should strategize for personal well-being. To read Neale’s full article, go here.

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🌟 Manage Your Emotional Health as a Leader! 🌟

Leaders set the emotional tone for their teams, but it's crucial to prioritize your own emotional well-being. Regular check-ins, mindfulness, journaling, or therapy can help you stay grounded and prevent burnout. Remember, healthy leaders create healthier teams!

🚀 Identify Choice Points: Each day presents decision points that impact your self-care. When overwhelmed, ask yourself: should I keep pushing through or take a moment to recharge? Recognizing these moments helps you support your well-being without compromising your leadership.

🌱 Prioritize Growth and Nourishment: Seek both personal and professional growth. Engage in activities that inspire you—hobbies, reading, or nature walks. Protect time for these nourishing experiences to boost creativity and resilience!

📝 Personalize Your Plan: No two leaders are alike, so craft a self-care plan tailored to your unique needs and responsibilities. Consistency is key—just as you wouldn’t skip critical meetings, don’t skip self-care!

These mindset shifts are essential for becoming a resilient and impactful leader. Strategize for your personal well-being just as you do for business growth.

#leadership #selfcare

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Email: A Simple Checklist for Sustainable Self-Care as a Leader

Hi [contact],

In today’s busy world, leaders like often struggle to put self-care into practice. But with a few key mindset shifts, you could make self-care an essential part of your leadership toolkit.

In our latest article [insert link], we share a five-part checklist to help you prioritize self-care, with strategies like making a body budget, managing emotional health, identifying choice points, and prioritizing growth and nourishment. When applied regularly, these shifts help you lead with energy, clarity, and resilience.

Take a moment to personalize your self-care plan and watch how it transforms your leadership.

At the Chamber, we’re committed to bringing you accurate and up-to-date information on topics that affect businesses and communities.

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