By Wendy Collier

The irony of taking care of yourself is that you tend to do it less when you need it most.

What's the big deal about self-care, anyway? You hear about it so much that it might fall on deaf ears, and who could blame you? There is a lot on your plate, and it's not exactly an obvious priority.

Maybe you know you should pay attention to your self-care, but when you're under stress and overwhelmed, it's one of the first things you let slide. Why is that? Well, the less evolved parts of the brain don't see a lack of self-care as an immediate threat to survival, but they certainly see the impact of a pandemic as one. That means all of your energy, mental focus and resources go toward managing the crisis while self-care gets filed away as an optional luxury when, in fact, neglecting it could lead to personal crisis.

Tell-tale Signs

It is possible some of the biggest challenges you are currently tackling wouldn't even be there if you took excellent care of yourself. This might sound preposterous, but is it?

Following are just a few of the signs that imply you and/or your employees may be neglecting self-care.

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Depression (even low-level)
• Conflict in relationships
• Overeating
• Undereating
• Health problems
• Physical aches and pains
• Irritability or frustration
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Brain fog
• Sleep issues
• Loss of ambition
• Lack of empathy toward self and others
• Loss of passion and excitement
• Loss of interest in the things you once loved
• Muscle tension
• A clenched jaw
• Increased heart rate or chest pressure

These are just a few of the common symptoms. Do any of them sound familiar?

You might think these things are "just a part of life," but do they have to be? Do you want them to be?

Don't wait until you or someone you care about is in an actual crisis before taking any of these things seriously.

Work to Do

What if there were another way that actually "magically" resolved many of the challenges and stresses you are currently facing?

Self-care could also be solution you and your employees need to solve some of the biggest challenges you face in your practice.

When people feel good, they perform better.

When people feel good, they are more creative, innovative and cooperative.

When people feel good, they are much more motivated and energetic. They want to contribute at higher levels and perform their best.

When people feel good, they don't just survive—they thrive.

Do you think that could solve a problem or two?

The best way to create a successful practice is to make sure you and your employees are prospering on a personal level.

Tune into yourself first, and then tune into the signs that your employees may be struggling, too.

Self-care Solutions

Following are some ways for you and your team can take better care of yourselves:

• Eat healthy food. I know, I know—you'e heard it before, but really, it's huge. Food = mood.
• Get great sleep, consistently. Practice evening relaxation rituals before bedtime to make sure this is possible.
• Stay physically active. Moving your body throughout the day is essential.
• Stay socially connected.
• Consistently prioritize and decide what can be delegated, released or rescheduled. Fiercely edit your to-do list.
• Create feel-good habits and routines. These can be as short and sweet as sitting in the sun for five minutes, taking an afternoon tea break or taking a daily 20-minute walk.
• Create a separate workspace at home to get alone time and focus, without interruptions. Interruptions sap your energy like nothing else.
• Limit news and social media consumption. It will all still be there when you get back.
• Develop mindfulness and relaxation practices, such as yoga, breathwork or meditation.
• Learn something new that gets you excited, such as a language or a creative hobby.

If you are skeptical, try instituting a seven-day self-care challenge personally or with your team where you commit to doing at least five of the above for seven days, and then write down what changed at work and at home, and how you feel. (This is very important.) This will inspire you to keep it up.

Check in with your colleagues and employees, too. Keep an eye on who is struggling and let them know it's okay. Tell them you have struggled, too, as a way of normalizing their experience and making it safe to be honest about it. It's not just about taking care of yourself, but also about taking care of others.

Get started now by scheduling the challenge on your calendar, then share this article with everyone in your office and start the seven-day self-care challenge together. Even better, extend it to 14 or 30 days and offer self-care related prizes for those who stick to it.

Following are some other ideas to try in the office:

• Schedule social time where no one can talk about work.
• Take walks, and coffee or tea breaks together.
• Have a fun competition to determine the most beautiful home workspace.
• Have an open conversation about how everyone is feeling.

Research has shown these practices to be linked to productivity, better health, creativity, overall fulfillment and, when encouraged by employers, employee retention. What's more, they make quality of lives considerably better, even during this chaotic time.

There is no better time to start than now. Make 2021 a year for self-care in your business.

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Wendy Collier is a business, marketing and mindset coach dedicated to helping her clients reach the next level in business and in life. She applies her Psychology and Communications degree, Franklin Covey Leadership Coaching Certification, Advanced ICF Coaching Training at CoachVille, and 21 years of marketing experience at Fortune 500 and Forbes Top 100 companies to help business professionals create options for themselves while making a difference. Collier is now running a thriving coaching business that empowers professionals to make money doing what they love while transforming their lives and the world around them. Collier can be contacted at 408.857.4310 or wendy@wendycollier.com, or visit her website at WendyCollier.com.