Summer is my most favourite time of year. I love the warmer weather, yet there is something else to summer which means I reflect more, I give myself more space and I also take a holiday which gives plenty of opportunity for seeing new things and refreshing my thoughts.
However leadership rarely slows down, targets don’t disappear because the sun is shining and teams still need direction. Customers still expect excellence and the inbox certainly doesn’t recognise the school holidays, yet summer offers something many leaders overlook: a natural pause point. We all lead busy lives where we are often running from one meeting to the next, so taking that time can often be limited.
In this blog we explore self-care and I encourage you to take a moment to reflect and consider your own ways to do a reset in the month ahead.
The cost of leading on empty
Many people I coach are in very high stress, high responsibility roles. Operating on empty becomes the norm as deadlines keep changing and the work is never complete. The impact is they became “always on”, their head is full all the time, of the work to be done and the strategic priorities that aren’t complete. Short notice presentations and large report preparation for customers became the norm. This sometimes results in lack of sleep, health niggles, being frustrated more frequently and not seeing the fun or lightness anymore. Weekend working becomes more frequent, social and family time started to suffer.
Many leaders pride themselves on resilience. They keep going, solve problems and absorb pressure from above while supporting those below. But over time, constant output without intentional recovery has consequences. You become reactive instead of intentional, you listen to respond rather than to understand and you make quicker decisions but not necessarily better ones. Your capacity to coach, inspire and think strategically begins to shrink as your energy becomes consumed by simply getting through the day. The irony is that the qualities that made you an effective leader are often the first to disappear when you’re running on empty.
Summer creates space that doesn’t exist at other times
Even in organisations that never truly stop, summer often has a different rhythm. Meetings may reduce, projects pause between phases, colleagues and clients take annual leave. The pace softens just enough to create something incredibly valuable: thinking time.
Rather than automatically filling every gap with more work, consider using this space intentionally and ask yourself:
- Where am I spending energy that no longer creates value?
- What habits have crept into my leadership that I’d like to change?
- What does my team need more of from me?
- What do I need to let go of before the final quarter of the year?
Self-care
Whilst taking annual leave is important, self-care is an all year round practice. It’s about replenishing resources internally so that you can thrive externally for yourself and for others. It means we return from the summer with greater clarity, perspective and that all important presence. Creating healthy habits is a great starting point to keep us thriving all year round.
Habits
Whilst I like to think I have healthy habits, I also recognise that they slip all too easily. The habits we create literally shape our lives. Our routines become our everyday infrastructure and if they are poor then our self-care will suffer too. I encourage my clients to consider their 3-5 daily or monthly habits, that keep them thriving. These do not need to be luxurious or even complex, they could include:
- A hot shower
- A cup of tea brewed in a tea pot with a favourite mug
- A moment to read before the day begins
- Watching the sunrise
- A walk or cycle to work
Over the years I have been coaching people, I have heard such a wide variety of habits that I recognise these are unique. However, they are often small, everyday items that make a big difference in the long run. A common theme for my clients is that walking, exercise and lunch breaks quickly disappear from the diary, even this small change of reinstating them can give the energy they need to thrive.
What are your daily habits?
Reflect on the daily habits that help give you energy and consider how you can build more of those into your week.
Rest and reflect
Before we can plan and action things, we need to have sufficient rest to think clearly. You can do this by considering these key areas:
Energy – What gives you energy and what drains it?
Attention – Where is your focus being pulled away? What can you do differently?
Relationships – Who would you value giving more time to? Who deserves more of your time?
Purpose – Does your diary align to the things that matter most to you?
Holiday season themes
Typically during holiday season we value:
- New experiences
- Spontaneous free time
- Quality time with people that matter the most to us
- Being outside
- Trying new foods
- More sleep
- Getting round to doing the chores that we put off
I’d like to set you a challenge which is “If I returned after the summer with the self-care I need, what do I need to start, stop or continue today to do so?”
Ways of thinking – from and to activity
One way to tap into this is to consider a “from and to” activity. I encourage you to think about your own patterns of thinking that might need a reset. For example:
From I am too busy, to I create time for things that matter the most.
From I have to support others before myself, to If I support myself I am in a better place to support others.
From I don’t have time for a lunch break, to If I have a lunch break I get more done in the afternoon.
From I never have time to think, to I create planning time every day as I know my decision are better if I do.
Good coaching questions with some examples
When you are at your best, what is happening?
I am personally at my best when life has some order to it, but also some spontaneity. I value being challenged and enjoy work that stretches me enough without being too much. I like “white space”, some time in the diary each week that allows me to choose what I do with it. I value exercise, as well as being outside, walking and socialising is also really important to me too.
What choices are you making that ensure you are thriving rather than surviving?
Examples might include, being able to say no, delegating effectively or getting enough sleep and rest.
What part of your personality preferences supports your wellbeing and what might get in the way?
Examples might include if you are an extrovert then being connected to others is great for your wellbeing, however if you are always saying yes and going out all the time, then rest and recuperation might also be needed.
In summary
The most effective and happy leaders often have a very simple yet powerful self-care routine operating in the background, a whole set of ways of thinking and activities that help them to thrive. I encourage you to have a wonderful summer ahead that enables you to reset, refocus and return with a greater sense of clarity, peace, energy and contentment. Of course if coaching might help you seek the clarity you are looking for, please get in touch.