Most companies seek short-term profits over long-term sustainable growth. As a result, many executives operate daily under the pressure to deliver results quickly at the highest standards. Their schedule is packed with back-to-back meetings, they work long hours, their mind is always “on”, they don’t have time to work out, have fun or simply rest. They sacrifice a lot of that quality time with their loved ones and teams for the sake of repetitive tasks, pointless meetings and short-term performance.

Even if many executives consider themselves successful professionally and financially, they are damaged physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. They have been leading toxic and stressful lifestyles for such a long time, impacting their mood, mindset and quality of life.

The challenge is to break through these harmful cycles.

But if executives are aware of the importance of self-care and its positive impact on them, why are they so bad at it?

There is a root cause to this. Most people are aligned with the voice of fear in their heads rather than with their sovereignty. They grew up under authority figures (parents, caregivers, teachers,…) who conditioned them to please them (be a good boy/girl, get good grades, don’t rock the boat,…) and answer their needs in order to survive in their childhood environment. By learning to systematically prioritize other people’s needs, they disconnect from their own until they suppress them totally.

This unconscious disconnection from their personal needs becomes the software they use in their lives under the pretext of being a “good person” and “helping others”. Worse, their subconscious mind associates this self-sacrifice lifestyle with love, success, happiness and safety, even if in reality they are experiencing none of these. 

As a result, many executives put themselves last and keep justifying that pattern under the “positive” cover-up: “I want to help others”, “I want to be present for my team”, without realizing that these justifications are part of the unconscious decisions they made when they were younger in order to “survive” in their environment. 

Here is the truth. Survival mode isn’t sustainable. While it might serve us sometimes to get things done and address crisis, it leads to fatigue, exhaustion and decreased focus and productivity. 

So, if you feel on the verge of burnout (or already burnt out), congratulations! This is life telling you that a radical change is necessary. The most important change is about replacing your current “software program”:

“I put my needs last in order to win others’ love and validation and to feel safe”. 

With a new one, such as:

“Prioritizing my own needs is the best way for me to feel safe and successful as it also allows me to offer my support to those who need me most”.

The inaccurate expression “work/life balance” is actually a matter of “my needs/others’ needs” balance. When you start weaving moments in your workdays that allow you to meet your personal needs, magic starts to happen. You feel lighter, more focused, more accomplished, happier and more present with your family and colleagues. 

There are many kinds of self-care, but as a whole, it refers to the activities and practices that we deliberately choose to engage in on a regular basis to maintain and enhance our health and well-being.

Deliberately choose. On a regular basis.

It’s not a one-off or once-in-a-blue-moon thing. To reap the many benefits, self-care needs to be a regular part of your daily life. Like your muscles, the more consistently you exercise your self-care habits, the happier, healthier and more resilient you’ll be.

Are you ? 

• Stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, worried, irritable, or agitated?
• Having trouble sleeping and concentrating?
• Experiencing clouded judgment or making poor decisions?
• Using caffeine or other stimulants to make it through the day?
• Struggling with the demands at work and in life?
• Watching relationships slip away?
• Experiencing body aches and pains and getting sick more frequently?
• Feeling a loss of purpose and connection?

Then working with a self-care coach is the perfect solution for you. 

Think about it…

If you are too stressed or if your work-life balance is precarious or has fallen off the cliff, consider the costs. Try entering some numbers into the following blanks.

The cost of being out of balance at work. $______

How much it’s worth to live a longer life. $______

The value of vitality and abundant energy. $______

The value of freedom from limitation. $______

The cost of being out of balance at home. $______

The cost of replacing a cherished relationship. $______

It may not be possible to put a price tag on what matters most, but your return on investment will be unmistakable.

If you want the freedom that comes with greater work-life effectiveness, it’s within your reach. 

Even with the extraordinary demands of leadership or a high impact role, you can take charge of your balance, your health, your life and your future. If not now, when?

I provide two offers to support my clients in their self-care journey: