As the production supervisor of the largest line in his plant, Ray had 14 managers under him that were responsible for roughly 200 associates at any given time. Unfortunately, he found himself in my office on a Tuesday afternoon to discuss some of his leadership struggles as of late. He was exhausted from working 14-hour days for nearly 60 straight days. The usual charisma and charm he radiated was non-existent as I hadn’t heard him whistling down the hallway in weeks as he usually did. He told me about losing control of his managers after getting into a shouting match that led to one of his best managers (and former friend) quitting. He told me about family struggles of late because he was no longer blocking off quality hours with them. He was gaining weight from stress eating and not sleeping. Quite simply, Ray was out of balance.

As leaders, we sometimes prioritize taking care of others so much that we don’t prioritize taking care of ourselves.

As leaders, we sometimes prioritize taking care of others so much that we don’t prioritize taking care of ourselves. But the truth is, taking care of ourselves is an essential component of great leadership. If someone is at peace with themselves, eating right and keeping energy levels up, managing their stress in healthy ways, and has their finances in order, they naturally lead from a better place within. A leader that takes time to improve and respect their body, mind and spiritual growth will respect the body, mind, and spirit of those they are leading. The 8-Dimensions of Wellness can be a guide to make sure you remain balanced in all aspects of your health.

As leaders, we sometimes prioritize taking care of others so much that we don’t prioritize taking care of ourselves.

As leaders, we sometimes prioritize taking care of others so much that we don’t prioritize taking care of ourselves. But the truth is, taking care of ourselves is an essential component of great leadership. If someone is at peace with themselves, eating right and keeping energy levels up, managing their stress in healthy ways, and has their finances in order, they naturally lead from a better place within. A leader that takes time to improve and respect their body, mind, and spiritual growth will respect the body, mind, and spirit of those they are leading. The 8-Dimensions of Wellness can be a guide to make sure you remain balanced in all aspects of your health.

The 8-Dimensions of Wellness can be a guide to make sure you remain balanced in all aspects of your health.

1.

Emotional

Coping with the stresses throughout life in a healthy, effective way.

Tip to improve: Dedicate one day each month as a “Stress-Free Day” and do something that helps you cope with your personal stress. (Go hiking. Take your kids to a water park or to the movies. Put your phone away and have a cookout. Visit a nearby city.)

2.

Intellectual

Building on and applying your knowledge, skills, and creativity.

Tip to improve: Read. Fiction, non-fiction, about things that interest you, about people that interest you, things that might be good for your career, current events, etc. Reading can improve our memory, retention, focus, and creativity. If you don’t have time to read, try audiobooks for your daily commute.

3.

Spiritual

Knowing and expanding your purpose and meaning in life.

Tip to improve: Practice mindfulness with meditation or breathing exercises. Start with just 2 minutes each day and add more time as you get more comfortable.

4.

Financial

Being comfortable with current and future financial situations.

Tip to improve: Know where your money is going by creating a monthly budget. Be sure to include an area in your budget for savings.

5.

Social

Developing your support system and sense of belonging with satisfying relationships.

Tip to improve: Intentionally plan time for friends and family that mean the most to you. Even better, tell them thank you and tell them how much they mean to you from time to time.

6.

Occupational

Finding purpose and meaning in your work.

Tip to improve: Celebrate your hard work by having dinner with coworkers or by bringing in lunch or snacks for the people that work hard for you.

7.

Physical

Understanding the need for proper nutrition, activity, and sleep.

Tip to improve: Start every day with a healthy breakfast. It doesn’t need to be large; a healthy smoothie or a banana with oatmeal could give you the energy to get your day started on the right track.

8.

Environmental

Creating healthy, satisfying surroundings and getting in touch with nature.

Tip to improve: Organize the apps, photos, and music on your phone. The more organized we are, the more control we feel we have in our lives. After your phone is decluttered, schedule time to organize one thing each week (desk, car, garage, etc.)

Losing balance in one area can negatively affect the other seven areas. For example, if someone is dealing with financial stress, they may take it out on friends or co-workers, leading to negative social or occupational wellness. To maintain your balance, make sure you revisit the 8-Dimensions of Wellness on occasion, and schedule time for growth and personal development in the different dimensions each week.

Schedule time for growth and personal development in the different dimensions each week.

Are your organization’s leaders struggling to balance their personal health and wellness from the 8 dimensions above? Contact us to learn more about Navigator’s W.I.L.L Program: A customized workshop designed for Navigator to introduce and assist you organization’s leaders in growing and mastering their personal health in all 8 dimensions.

Improve your health now