Self-Care in Leadership

by Oluwatobi Oluwagbemi

I am a self-care and self love enthusiast. I enjoy taking care of myself and making sure that I am getting the nourishment that I need. Self-care is so important in leadership. I wrote this blog because I realize that as a leader in my community I must continue to take care of myself in all areas of my life. I am growing daily and learning that I must not wait for anyone to do this for me. No one is above self care and no one can perfect it because it is hard to perfect. Especially as leaders we are so busy working hard that we neglect self care sometimes. But I have learned that I must engage in acts of self-care.

I admit that for many years I dealt with burnout. I found it hard to take care of myself. I was overloaded with school work and involved in a lot of organizations on campus. I had no free time to show myself any love or care. I struggled with self-care as an undergraduate student and while I am no longer in college, I sometimes still struggle. Most leaders struggle with this. They may feel guilty when they rest or take care of themselves, but self-care in leadership is essential because leaders are the backbone of their communities and they must take care of themselves before they can take care of others.

Here are some tips on self-care that have worked for me:

Sufficient sleep: This can be really hard because we are all busy professionals who do not want to do anything that may seem like a waste of time. It’s important to sleep well as adults to nourish our bodies. Sleep is one of the most important factors to staying healthy, and getting a healthy amount of shuteye consistently can do wonders for your energy levels throughout the day, thus positively impacting your leadership work and helping prevent feeling overwhelmed or falling behind. 

Exercise daily: This has been hard for me. I find it hard to move my body enough and get myself to the gym on a routine basis. To make things worse, whenever I go to the gym. I always seem to have a headache. My doctor advised me to drink more water and also start small at the gym. One advantage of exercising is that it clears my head and it helps me to feel better. Every leader needs to have a daily routine that will help motivate them to continue to grow personally and professionally, and adding in some type of daily exercise is crucial to this.

Eat healthy: This is probably the hardest for all of us. Who has time to cook and eat healthy all the time when there is frozen pizza and take out options galore? Which leaders have the extra time on their hands to always have fresh fruits and vegetables on hand? But doctors advise that eating healthy not only makes us stay young but also helps us feel better internally. I would be realistic and say that this is the hardest part for us as leaders. I think the best idea would be to take it slow and take small steps to adding more healthy eating habits into your daily routine. Leaders and non-leaders alike need to do their best to stay well-nourished so that they can function optimally and maintain a good mood. When we don't eat well it affects us in many detrimental ways and contributes to crankiness (hello, hanger!). When I am full from healthy foods I realize that I overall function better and have more energy.

Take your vacation: This is expensive sometimes but I recommend it if you can afford it. Travel the world and enjoy life. Plan a trip to a new place, near or far, for vacay and take pictures to remember your adventures. Absorb new cultures and experiences and live grandly. Try new things, eat new foods, meet new people, and simply enjoy your time off. Life is too short not to take these opportunities. Successful leaders today need to have plenty of knowledge and a wide array of experiences and what better way to gain these things than going on trips and exploring new places. It is even better when the vacation is in a country with a different language and a different culture so that you can come back with marketable communication skills that can help you in your career. For every professional, I recommend using your allotted vacation time, no matter how busy you are, as it helps clear your head and also allows you to see a life different from your own.

Try new things: Start with food! Google top restaurants to go to on a budget. Try a different dish other than what you order every time. Eat something you normally don't eat (as long as you're not allergic, of course). Try new destinations outside of your norm. Live a little, spend a bit, and allow these experiences to help you grow. I think that as leaders we need to explore a different palette and we need to get accustomed to eating all types of food from different parts of the world. As a leader, I have had to dine with people from different countries and because of that my palette has significantly broadened and I am used to eating all types of food. I find it rude to reject food from another culture because you are not used to it. Give it a try and who knows, you might discover a new favorite!

Self discovery and journaling: I write what I know about myself and others. Writing and journaling are forms of therapy for me. If writing isn't your thing, then find out what type of similar activity works for you and do it consistently. As leaders we need to reflect on our days and also make sure we are going down the right path. We need to make sure that we are writing down our goals and how we plan to accomplish them. I write down my weekly to-do list and I make sure to finish the included tasks on time. I also forgive myself if I am not able to finish everything on my list and then adjust it to make it more realistic to what I can reasonably accomplish in a certain amount of time. I also write down my strengths and how I can use them to grow my business. I always make sure that I am journaling and writing down my thoughts on how I want to lead better, but I make sure to give myself plenty of grace when I do not find myself where I want to be. This part is hugely important.

The journey to being a good leader is challenging in many ways, but with time and patience anyone can get there and lead their communities well. Self-care isn’t always easy for leaders to practice consistently, but we know it must be prioritized. It has to be taken seriously. If you can't afford a vacation then book a hotel room nearby for a short, relaxing staycation. Make it a priority to live your best life on your terms and bring what you learn from these self-care practices to your work life. Make sure to dream big and aim to reach for all your goals, but make adequate time to recharge and rest everyday. Finally, I think that self care is the hardest thing for leaders because our schedules are typically crammed and overloaded. I think everyone should focus on whatever types of self-care help them most and be sure to integrate these practices into their daily routine to see the most benefits. Not just this year, but every year, we should make it a priority to do more to take care of our bodies and minds so that we can be at our best for ourselves and for those we lead.

- Oluwatobi Oluwagbemi -