Healing Burnout Through Self-Leadership: Part 2
If you haven’t already, be sure to read Part 1 of this blog series on self-leadership. Understanding the foundation is key to mastering these strategies.
Three Ways to Practice Self-Leadership Today
1. IDENTIFY energy drains and boosts
Effective self-leadership begins with self-awareness, particularly when it comes to your energy levels. Understanding what fuels you and what drains you is essential for thriving.
Step 1: Over the next two weeks, keep a journal of activities, situations, or people that drain your energy. Whether it’s excessive sitting, too much socializing, or something else entirely, write it down.
Step 2: Similarly, note what activities, interactions, or environments boost your energy. It could be a meaningful conversation with a friend or a work task that you genuinely enjoy.
Step 3: After you’ve compiled your lists, create a third list with actionable steps. Consider small, manageable changes to maximize your energy. For example, can you adjust your schedule to spend less time on draining activities, or find ways to mitigate their impact?
2. practice positive thought patterns
Our behaviors are often shaped by our thought patterns. Repeated thoughts become beliefs, and these beliefs unconsciously guide our actions.
Step 1: Start by becoming aware of your negative or unhelpful thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking something like, “This is too much work! My life is never going to improve,” take a moment to challenge it.
Step 2: Ask yourself, “How do I know this is true?” Then, replace it with a more constructive thought that you already believe, such as, “Some people do change their lives and feel better. Maybe I can too.”
Step 3: Spend a few minutes each day practicing these helpful thoughts. Over time, you’ll notice a shift in your mindset, leading to more positive behaviors and outcomes.
3. implement a daily check-in routine
Regular self-reflection is a cornerstone of self-leadership. Use this simple daily check-in to align your energy and focus:
- Physical Wellbeing: is my body ready to perform?
- Mental Wellbeing: What am I feeling and thinking about right now? How much mental capacity do I have?
- Emotional Wellbeing: What emotions am I feeling, and why? What’s the story I’m telling myself?
- Existential Wellbeing: What’s most important right now?
These questions help you assess your capacity across the four key sources of internal energy: physical, mental, emotional, and existential. The beauty of these energies is that they are all renewable!
Next Steps: When stress or overwhelm starts to creep in, pause and use this checklist to regain control. Identify one micro-action you can take immediately to restore your energy and refocus your day.
Examples:
- Skip your workout and opt for an extra hour of sleep.
- Say no to a draining social event and enjoy a quiet evening with a good book.
- Call a friend who uplifts you.
- Clear some space in your calendar for the next day.
- Delegate a task to lighten your load.
By mastering your energy, you’ll feel more in control, vibrant, and happy in life.
Final Thought
Remember, as Dr. Seuss wisely said:
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Start steering yourself toward greater energy and self-leadership today!
