Internal Stressors + Countermeasures

Believing that we have to seek permission from others or ourselves to switch off and recharge.

Permission. Grant yourself permission slip to take time for mental rejuvenation, creative play and physical recovery.

A belief that as leaders we need to be self-reliant and capable of navigating all challenges without outside assistance.

Ask for support. Be willing to ask for emotional support and guidance from trusted peers, family members, therapists, coaches or mentors.

Mistaking commitment for workaholism, stubbornly forging ahead and not listening to physical or emotional warning signs

Self-enquiry. Asking what story or belief might be underneath a perpetual desire to forge ahead, lose sleep or keep your nose to the grindstone at all costs.

Believing that ‘this is just the way it is’—not appreciating that nervous systems and brains are neuroplastic and thus have the capacity to learn and rewire.

Growth mindset. Viewing certain stressors as an opportunity for growth and reframing their context with personal values e.g. “I’m stressed about [XXX] because I deeply care about [YYY]”

Catastrophizing, projecting into the future and imagining current challenges to be insurmountable.

Equanimity. Can be trained through mindfulness practice, untangling identity from work and remembering that ‘this too shall pass’.

Leaders often report experiencing a harsh ‘inner-critic’ which gets in the way of self-care practices.

Kind words. Start collecting ‘kind words’ in a note file on your computer as a reminder of how you have helped others.