Leaders: Check Your Own Wellbeing!
I am very thankful for my business. It has been full of unique challenges as well as opportunities over the years. Late last year, I had been working a few too many hours. I was sharing this with my coach (yes, I am a coach who has a coach), and she asked me a very powerful question:
When you work that many hours, will you be at your best doing what you are doing at the 45th, 50th, or 55th hour?
Gulp. Well, no …
It caused me to pause. Look inward and make some changes to improve my wellbeing. Gallup defines wellbeing as encompassing five essential elements: career, social, financial, physical and community. Research has shown the critical importance of holistic wellbeing (i.e., having high wellbeing across all five essential elements) compared with physical wellness alone in elevating key health, community and business outcomes. Did you catch that … business outcomes!
Further, there is connectedness between wellbeing and employee engagement. As leaders, we should be examining our own wellbeing as well as implementing it with our teams. Research has also shown that those who document their wellbeing activities on a regular basis are more likely to have their wellbeing improve over time, probably because it keeps wellbeing and health top of mind for those who do so.
Below is an easy to use self-examination. Consider taking a few minutes each week to review and then determine ONE thing you can do to improve.
How Am I Doing in Each Wellbeing Area?
Gallup Wellbeing Elements?
Career wellbeing: You like what you do every day.
Social wellbeing: You have meaningful friendships in your life.
Financial wellbeing: You manage your money well.
Physical wellbeing: You have energy to get things done.
Community wellbeing: You like where you live.
What is one thing I could do today to improve in one area?
Here are a few simple-to-implement ideas.
Set daily, weekly and monthly goals.
Assess and reassess your household budget.
Celebrate something every day.
Volunteer in ways that get noticed.
Get to the dentist, doctor, etc.
Learn your strengths and apply them routinely.
Move your body every hour.
Make your bed every single morning.
Tilt your head back and let the sun shine on your face for 3 minutes.
Meet/Zoom friends for lunch or dinner.
Find someone who cares about your wellbeing, and care for someone else's wellbeing in return.
Get your sleep: not too much, not too little.
Drink in moderation.
Donate to a local food pantry or clothing dropoff.
Go to your place of worship regularly.
Learn or do new and interesting things each week.
Practice thankfulness for what you do have.
Discuss this with those you lead.