Essential Self Care Practices for Leaders

It’s essential to take care of yourself. No one is more interested in your care than you are. Maybe your mother cares more, but she’s not available 24/7 like you are.

Self-care habits are among the most important for being the best version of yourself. They show the world that you care about yourself, but, more importantly, they show you care about yourself.

Too many leaders are focused on helping others and are not focused enough on our care. So, I’m going to share several physical, emotional, and mental activities to care for yourself.

You can’t do much for others if you’re not taking good care of yourself. So, make yourself a priority, and you’ll benefit those in your life more.

I’m going to start with a basic self-care practice, grooming. Yes, I said grooming. Did you know that grooming can be a good gauge of your mental health?

Unfortunately, those with significant mental health issues often neglect their grooming. Yet, it’s essential to look and feel your best each day. You’d be surprised how much taking a good shower, getting dressed, and looking your best can do for your mood and attitude.

I’ve discussed this in a previous post: having a healthy diet. Unfortunately, it’s hard to rise above the quality of food you put into your body.

But, even with conflicting diets and advice, you have a good idea of what foods are healthy and which aren’t. So, experiment with different diets and take note of their effects on your mood, sleep, energy, and focus.

Here’s another tip I’ve mentioned in the past, exercise. Exercise has a positive effect on your mind and body. Exercise enhances your ability to sleep, uplifts your mood, and can increase your longevity.

One recommendation from the medical community is to engage in at least 2 1/2 hours of exercise per week. Others recommend a minimum of 20 minutes three times a week. What’s important is that you pick a regular exercise routine and stick to it.

You’re already familiar with practicing gratitude if you read my posts regularly. Gratitude is good for your soul. It creates hope and contentment, even in challenging circumstances. But, unfortunately, it’s easy to forget how much you already have if you’re not practicing gratitude each day.

Here’s another tip I’ve written about, forgiveness. Forgiving others has a powerful effect on your physical and emotional health. It also frees your mind from negative recurring thoughts and allows you to make more progress in your life.

You’re only stealing time from yourself when you hold on to negative feelings toward others. Remember, forgiveness is as much for you as for the other person.

Now, don’t forget to get adequate sleep! Set up a regular schedule for sleeping and stick to it. It’s not too hard to convince yourself of the importance of sleep. Then, all you have to do is skip one night to experience the powerful impact of sleep on your well-being.

Spending time with others is as good to you as it is for you. However, you can’t spend all your time alone and remain emotionally healthy. It’s necessary to interact with others.

Of course, how much human contact is needed varies greatly from one person to another. No matter how much of a loner you might be, spending time with others matters.

It would help if you also spent some quality time alone. As I mentioned, spending time with others is essential, but spending some time alone is also important. Everyone needs to get away and be alone once in a while. But, again, how much time you need to spend alone is an individual preference. So, make time for this vital self-care practice.

Have you ever noticed that your self-care suffers when you’re down in the dumps? Conversely, have you ever noticed how much better your self-care is when you’re feeling positive and healthy? The quality of your self-care is an excellent barometer of your overall well-being.

“You can’t really be present for the people in your life if you aren’t taking care of yourself.”

– Kerry Washington

Good self-care practices are also an effective way of keeping yourself firing on all cylinders.

If you’re feeling down and out, give extra attention to your self-care. You deserve it.

Are you following these essential self-care practices?

#YourLeadershipGuide,
Kim

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