Take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself is your responsibility. No one is going to take care of your work for you.

Don’t make things too hard for yourself. Before you get yourself into anything, ask yourself, ‘Do I have what it takes to do it well?’ If not, don’t go for it. If you have, then go for it.

As a leader, you are not working alone. You are working with your people. So if you want to stay in shape, you must take care of yourself.

According to Meghan French Dunbar, ‘Holistic leaders strive to avoid toxic traits as much as possible. They can discern which healthy traits complement each other and which are needed based on circumstances, never relying too much on one trait over another.’

‘Leaders who’ve shifted to an authentic leadership approach feel happier and less stressed while also proving to be more effective in the workplace.’

‘Authentic leadership makes employees feel greater affinity with and commitment to their organizations, increases trust, and enhances employees’ creativity and positive emotions.’

‘Authentic leaders strive to lead from their values, honor their truth regardless of circumstances, question the norm and do things differently, regulate their emotions so they can respond rather than react, and seek healthy environments where they feel supported as their best selves.’

‘Optimized leaders focus on the quality of how they show up over the quantity of how much they’re doing. They intentionally create conditions in their life that help them be at their best- including finding needed support, releasing things that don’t serve them, and setting clear boundaries- all of which decrease the likelihood of burnout, bolster creativity, improve performance, and increase overall happiness and well-being.’

‘Sustained leaders prioritize their well-being, regularly engaging with practices that result in significantly improved physical and mental health, decrease instances of burnout, enhanced resilience, and increased levels of overall happiness.’

‘One of the best ways to encourage your team to do so is by stepping into your vulnerability.’

‘Employees need to have clear mechanisms to voice their opinions to company leadership to ensure their safety.’

‘When employees lack dignity, they respond in all sorts of ways– anger, frustration, disengagement, depression, anxiety, and much more.’

‘How you define success shapes your entire life: it informs what type of work you choose, the goals you set, the sacrifices you make, and what you prioritize.’

Source:

Meghan French Dunbar (2025). This Isn’t Working: How Working Women Can Overcome Stress, Guilt, and Overload to Find True Success