As I sit here writing this blog about self-care and self-management for leaders, I’m gazing at the waves rolling in off the sea in Mombasa, Kenya, where I’m attending a donor conference. This conference feels different from the ones I’ve attended before—or perhaps, it is me who is different now. In the past, during conferences or work trips, I’d check my emails before breakfast, respond to WhatsApps during breaks, and work late into the night. I’d try to squeeze my normal eight-hour workday around the conference schedule and end up coming home completely exhausted!
This time, I’ve realized that most things can actually wait until I’m back. I’m choosing to prioritize self-care and be more present in the moment. Honestly, it’s a more enjoyable way to experience life!
There’s an important distinction between self-care and self-management. After driving myself too hard, I swung to the other extreme and only did things if I felt like it: which meant I never felt like exercising and always felt like eating chocolate! Clearly, only focusing on self-care isn’t healthy. What we really need is to embrace self-management.
I like to think of self-management as parenting my inner child. Just as a parent makes sure their child goes to bed on time, drinks water, and does things that might not be fun but are good in the long run, we need to guide ourselves in the same way. Self-management covers several key areas:
As leaders, it’s crucial that we strengthen our self-management muscles. The way we handle our emotions and stress, and how we interact with our teams, plays a big role in shaping our organization’s culture. We have the power to influence the work environment. If we let our stress spill over—either by shutting down or snapping at others—we risk impacting our teams’ wellbeing.
The first step is self-awareness: being mindful of what we’re bringing into a space and how it might affect those around us. The second step is self-management: regulating ourselves through practical actions so we bring positivity and light to our environment.
Ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves.
Now that I’ve finished this blog, I’m going to sit back, watch the waves, take a deep breath, and then go for a swim—because I know exercise is good for me. What will you do today to support the wellbeing of your future self?
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