Nurture Yourself

Why Looking After Yourself Is One of the Smartest Career Strategies You Can Have

There’s a phrase you’ve probably heard many times before: “Put your own oxygen mask on first.” It’s simple advice, but surprisingly difficult to follow! Many of our clients are brilliant at looking after everyone else. They support their teams, meet deadlines, solve problems, manage clients, and keep projects moving forward. Somewhere in the middle of all that, their own wellbeing quietly slips to the bottom of the list. In this article, we look at how to nurture yourself.

Summary

• Looking after yourself gives you the energy, clarity, and resilience to lead and perform at your best.
• Don’t wait for burnout. Focus on regular replenishment instead of trying to recover after you’ve run yourself into the ground. 
• Schedule yourself into your diary. Protect time for lunch, movement, reflection and rest just as you would any important meeting. 
• Small moments matter. Micro-rest breaks throughout the day can improve your focus, productivity and emotional wellbeing. 
• Healthy boundaries make you a stronger leader. Saying no, delegating and protecting your personal time helps you show up consistently. 
• Embrace life’s natural rhythms. Work with busy and quieter seasons, using slower periods to recharge, reflect, and prepare for what’s next.

When we talk about self-care, we’re not talking about escaping responsibility. Self-care means giving yourself the energy, clarity, and resilience to meet all of your responsibilities well. The most effective leaders understand that looking after themselves means they can continue performing at their best. 

Don’t dismiss the cliches! 

You can’t pour from an empty cup; fit your oxygen mask; keep filling your tank. They have all been said for a reason, but the impact lessens over time, and we ignore the cliches at our peril! 

Think about those glorious days when you’ve had enough sleep, eaten well, moved your body, and taken a few moments to reset. Everything seems to run smoothly, your team are happy, and life feels easier somehow. 

Now compare those days to the ones where you’ve skipped lunch, answered emails late into the evening, rushed from meeting to meeting, and convinced yourself you’ll rest next week, when things quieten down.

Which version of you makes better decisions?

Which version listens more patiently?

Which version has the creativity to solve problems or the confidence to lead others?

Your wellbeing directly influences your thinking, emotional resilience, communication and confidence. Your clients, team and family benefit from this, so looking after yourself isn’t selfish – it’s sustainable. 

Stop Waiting Until You’re Exhausted

One of the biggest myths about self-care is that it requires large blocks of free time and potentially a bubble bath! Yes, a spa weekend sounds lovely, but most of us don’t have the luxury of disappearing every time life becomes busy. Instead, think about replenishment rather than recovery.

• Recovery happens after you’ve reached burnout.
• Replenishment happens before you get there.

Small, consistent acts of care often make the biggest difference.

Schedule Yourself Like You Schedule Everyone Else

If your calendar is filled with meetings but has no space for you, you’ve unintentionally told yourself that everyone else’s priorities matter more than your own. What if you treated your own wellbeing with the same importance?

What might that look like?

• Blocking out thirty minutes for lunch instead of eating at your desk. 
• Taking a walk between meetings instead of checking another email. 
• Booking 50 minute meetings to give you a 10 minute break inbetween.
• Finishing work on time one evening each week without apologising for it. 
• Protecting an hour for learning, reflection or simply thinking. 

The key to nurturing yourself is deciding that you’re worth scheduling. 

The Power of Micro-Rest

How do you start to nurture yourself, especially if you haven’t built a strategy for this yet? 

First of all, it’s worth remembering that rest doesn’t always mean stopping completely. Sometimes it can be helpful to interrupt the constant pace before your brain becomes overloaded.

Here are a few micro-rest tasks you can add to your day:

• Taking five slow breaths before your next meeting. 
• Standing outside with a cup of tea instead of scrolling on your phone. 
• Stretching for two minutes between tasks. 
• Closing every tab and giving yourself five minutes of complete silence. 
• Looking away from your screen and noticing what’s happening around you. 

These tiny pauses create space for your nervous system to reset, helping you return with greater focus and clarity. Can you think of any more?

Boundaries Create Better Leadership

Most people worry that saying no makes them appear less committed, but in reality, healthy boundaries help you show up consistently rather than constantly. 

Boundaries might include:

• Not checking emails late every evening. 
• Protecting family time or personal commitments. 
• Saying no to work that doesn’t align with your priorities. 
• Saying no to tasks or people that don’t bring you great energy.
• Delegating instead of carrying everything yourself. 
• Asking for support when your workload becomes unrealistic. 

Strong leaders know what deserves their energy.

Work With the Seasons, Not Against Them

Nature doesn’t operate at full speed all year round, so neither do we. There will be seasons when you’re working on something exciting, managing change, or stepping into new opportunities, and these periods will naturally require more energy.

On the flip side, there will be quieter seasons.

I used to panic when my diary was clear. Now, I treat periods like this as a time to reset, recharge, reflect, and prepare for what’s next.

Giving yourself permission to slow down occasionally doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. Think of those slower moments as you creating the conditions to work with more purpose.

Ready to Put Yourself Back on Your Priority List?

Success is all about creating a career and life you have the energy to enjoy, and when you choose to nurture yourself, everything (and everyone) else benefits too. Coaching can help you build practical, sustainable habits that strengthen your wellbeing, boost your confidence and support your personal and professional growth.

That best version of you isn’t the busiest one, but the version that is supported and able to thrive. If you’ve been giving your energy to everyone else, perhaps it’s time to invest some of it back into yourself…I promise everyone else benefits in the long run anyway! 

If you’re looking for a simple place to begin, get in touch to hear about our Open Bounce Mindset Programme or, if you simply want ongoing online personal and professional support then download 3 Steps to Career Confidence for access to FREE content! 

If you’d like support understanding how to nurture yourself, sign up for our monthly newsletter packed with coaching advice and tips, or book a FREE consultation call with Rebecca to learn how we can support you, or connect with her on LinkedIn.