How Are You Treating You?
Oct 29, 2021
“Self-care is how you take your power back."
--Lalah Delia
Eighty-three percent of workers are experiencing symptoms of burnout. Nearly 1 in 4 employees experienced the more severe signs, including reduced professional efficacy and cynicism towards coworkers and their jobs. This is what I found when researching the biggest challenges that leaders and managers face in 2021. I wasn't surprised.
Too much stress can lead to burnout. Our world has turned upside-down in these last 18 months. Many of the ways we operated pre-Covid have changed and there are still many unknowns.
If we lead or manage people, we spend all day serving others. Many business owners have been agonizing over ways to keep their businesses running and profitable, as well. This doesn't include the children that need nurture and the families that need us. 
My question to you is--when do you care for you? What is your self-care strategy? When do you refuel and pour back into you?
How can we give others our best selves when our best selves have already been given out?
You can't give what you don't have.
We all remember what the airline stewardess tells us to do in case of emergency. If the oxygen masks come down, we need to put the mask on ourselves first.
We need to fill our energy tanks first. Operating from an energy deficiency isn't healthy and may lead to anxiety, depression, hopelessness and fatigue.
How can we refuel and refresh ourselves? Here are some ideas for self-care:
-
Take a walk--just get out into nature.
-
Take a bubble bath (yes, guys can do this, too.)
-
Talk with a friend.
-
Go to the gym (if you enjoy that.)
-
What brings you joy? Do that.
-
Practice gratitude.
I am sure that you can think of other ways that would reinvigorate and fortify you. Personally, I have quiet time every morning and hiking Badger is another "go-to" refresher.
Right now. Stop. Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Relax and think of things/people for whom you are grateful. Stay there for a couple minutes. Doesn't that feel good?
Now grab your calendar and start scheduling time to pour back into you. Start small--maybe with 5 minutes. Work up to whatever it takes to refuel and give power back to your best self. You deserve it.
Still learning this,
Jan
Jan McDonald
The John Maxwell Team
To subscribe, click here
https://jan-mcdonald-llc.
https://www.facebook.com/jan.
www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/