As a manager, you’re accustomed to putting the needs of your team members before your own. Check out these self-care tips every manager should know.
As a workplace leader, you probably put the needs of others before your own. After all, it’s your job to ensure your team members feel supported. However, an important part of being an effective manager is taking care of your own well-being and prioritizing your mental, physical, and emotional needs. Let’s explore the self-care tips every manager should know so that you can be your best self both inside and outside the office.
Physical Movement
If your job requires you to sit and stare at a screen, it’s imperative to take short breaks to walk or stretch throughout the day. Time spent away from your desk also gives your mind a chance to refresh itself and process whatever task you’re working on. A quick physical refresher can also motivate you to continue tackling your to-do list for the rest of the day.
Outside of the office, it’s important to perform some form of exercise on a regular basis. Exercise releases endorphins that provide a positive boost for your brain and your mood. Even a short walk around your neighborhood at a moderate pace can work wonders for centering your mind, body, and spirit.
Manage Your Stress Levels
As mentioned before, it can be easy to prioritize the needs of your team members before your own. However, a self-care tip you should know as a manager is how to manage your own stress levels. Be sure to regularly talk to your own leadership about your workload and discuss tips for avoiding executive burnout. If you’re not properly looking after yourself, it’s very easy to succumb to the pressure to succeed at all costs.
Be sure to delegate tasks effectively to keep your personal mental health in check. It’s important to recognize you can’t do it all yourself; rely on your team members to complete tasks or responsibilities. Setting realistic targets for yourself (and sticking to them) is a more subtle form of self-care, but it’s an extremely important habit, nonetheless.
Pursue a New Hobby
As a manager, excelling in your role rightfully occupies a large portion of your life, but it can’t become your entire personality. Take some time to explore activities or hobbies that have nothing to do with your career. Have you always wanted to learn a new language? Sign up for a beginner’s class. Are you interested in learning how to play an instrument? Commit to taking music lessons. Regardless of your interests, learning a new skill is fun and beneficial for your brain.
It’s important to note that self-care may not come naturally at first. Like any new routine, it requires consistency and commitment. However, you’ll eventually begin to realize that time spent outside of the office is just as valuable as time spent at your desk.
