Optimising your self-care routine - an important step for managers
Optimising a self-care routine means consciously investing time and energy in your own health and well-being. Managers who improve their self-care often benefit from greater clarity, calmness and resilience in their day-to-day work. Optimising your self-care routine helps you to reduce stress and cope better with the challenges of day-to-day management.
Optimise your self-care routine through conscious planning in everyday life
If you want to optimise your self-care routine, you should start by reserving clear time slots in your daily schedule for self-care elements. Regular short breaks, exercise or conscious breathing exercises can be firmly integrated into the calendar and given a high priority. A tried and tested approach is the so-called micro-routine, in which just 5 minutes of gratitude or conscious stretching can change the focus.
It is particularly helpful to ask yourself briefly in the morning, "What do I need today to ensure my stability?" Such reflections help to optimise the self-care routine by specifically addressing needs. Mistakes in implementation often occur when self-care is only pursued sporadically. It is therefore advisable to organise the routine consistently yet flexibly.
Optimise your self-care routine through exercise and nutrition
Exercise is a key component in optimising your self-care routine. Even short bursts of exercise, such as a walk during your lunch break or simple stretching exercises at work, help to reduce stress and promote mental clarity. A balanced diet with fresh food also supports physical and mental performance in the long term.
BEST PRACTICE at company XYZ (name changed due to NDA contract)
At a medium-sized company, the self-care routine was optimised by having all managers do a 5-minute breathing exercise together before meetings started. At the same time, healthy snacks were provided in the meeting rooms, which encouraged positive feedback on energy levels during work.
BEST PRACTICE at ABC (name changed due to NDA contract)
One manager started with a short stretching programme every morning that only lasted a few minutes. This helped to sharpen their focus for the day and gradually became a fixed habit that significantly improved the way they dealt with stress.
BEST PRACTICE at start-up DEF (name changed due to NDA contract)
Here, healthy lunches were deliberately established as part of the self-care routine. Employees and managers alike chose fresh, nutritious dishes that are not time-consuming. This had a noticeable effect on their ability to concentrate in the afternoon.
Self-reflection and clear boundaries as the key to optimising your self-care routine
If you want to optimise your self-care routine, you also need to pause regularly and be prepared to recognise your own limits. Managers should regularly realise when their own energy reserves are running low. Recognising these limits makes it possible to take breaks in good time and prevent overload.
Communicating these boundaries in a professional environment is just as important. If you actively communicate your needs, they are more likely to be respected and help you to consistently implement self-care. This mindful self-management not only serves personal well-being, but also has a positive effect on leadership skills.
BEST PRACTICE at a service company (name changed due to NDA contract)
One manager began to consciously schedule fixed breaks every day and communicate these to the team. As a result, these breaks were respected and even motivated other team members to be more conscious of their energy levels.
BEST PRACTICE at an international group (name changed due to NDA contract)
The optimisation of the self-care routine was supported by regular personal reflection phases. With two minutes of silence every day, managers were able to clear their heads and better assess their limits, which led to less stress in the long term.
Optimising self-care routines as a long-term investment for sustainable leadership
Optimising a well-practised self-care routine is not a one-off action, but a long-term process. By continuously adapting self-care to your own needs and consciously integrating it into your everyday life, you can strengthen your personal resilience. Managers often report that this enables them to cope better with pressure and maintain their performance for longer.
It is therefore worth optimising your self-care routine as part of your own self-management. Investing in this not only lays the foundation for a healthy working life, but also sets a positive example for employees and colleagues.
My analysis
Optimising your self-care routine is a decisive factor for success in professional management. It strengthens clarity, the ability to concentrate and emotional balance. Self-care plays a key role in sustainable leadership, as convincing leadership is only possible with a healthy body and mind. Implementation requires conscious planning, regular reflection and clear communication of one's own boundaries. Practice-orientated micro-routines, targeted exercise and healthy eating help to continuously improve the self-care routine. This creates a resilient basis for success in day-to-day management.
Further links from the text above:
[1] Self-care & self-care for managers
[3] Sustainable leadership: Leading better with self-care
[5] Selfcare isn't selfish: 5 tips for healthy self-care for leaders
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