Looking After Yourself Or Impactful Work -The Choice Is Yours... Really?

As a female sustainability leader in a male-dominated industry, you're at the forefront of driving positive environmental change to address the challenges of the ecological crisis. I know you're dedicated to creating a sustainable future. To others, they see you nailing it! To them, you're effortlessly breaking barriers and inspiring them to act.

But you just don't see that, do you? All you feel is overwhelmed, knackered and fearful of the future. Do you know what? That's completely normal.

Behind the scenes, as many other women in sustainability leadership roles do, you grapple with the challenges of a world where what 'the right thing to do is', isn't valued. Inherently, you know what needs to change; however, competing demands on your time caring for children and ageing parents zap your energy reserves. Not only that, but often we all still face age-related biases in the workplace, so subtle, they can slowly chip away at our confidence without us realising it. With all that, and the hormonal challenges we face with an ageing body, it’s no surprise we can feel like we are losing it sometimes. Reaching mid-career intensifies pressure on us to leave a lasting legacy, one that our children will be proud of. Is this something we just need to take a hit on? Do we really have to accept that to have an impact to be proud of it is inevitable our wellbeing will suffer?

I definitely don’t think so!

These pressures don't have to be part of the course to having the impact we really want. Let me share a case study to illustrate. One of my clients was a successful businesswoman with one of the first sustainable online retail solutions to reduce plastic waste. On the outside looking in she had made a huge impact in this space, however, this wasn’t how she felt. Hers had been a lonely journey that had led to her becoming burnt out, something she didn’t want to experience again. As a result of us working together over a series of months, this client realised her first priority needed to be her well-being and building healthy habits. She regained her energy and vitality which enabled her to choose carefully where her business was going with her wellbeing becoming front and centre of her decisions. When we had an accountability session some months following the end of her coaching programme, she identified that because she had prioritised her wellbeing in this way she had been able to sustain her impact over the longer term and felt energised, happy and strong. ?This case study shows that it is possible to look after yourself and have the impact you dream of, it doesn’t have to be a choice between the two.?

If you’re interested in taking small steps towards making this your reality, follow these 5 steps:

1. Acknowledge your achievements: Each of your accomplishments is significant. Take time to recognise and celebrate your contributions, even the little ones. Create a 'Ta Da' list! (A list of wins, however small) Something that Claire and Clare from Venture Zero do (listen again to episode 20 of The Butterfly Effect here), as part of their work with organisations.

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2. Build a strong support network: Connect with other female leaders in sustainability. Share experiences and create alliances that can help you navigate industry challenges. If you're short on time, this can be as simple as listening to one of the episodes in my podcast, The Butterfly Effect, whilst out for your morning dog walk. Here is the link.

3. Prioritise self-care: Regular self-care isn't something you do when you have time; it's a necessity for maintaining your effectiveness as a leader and change maker. Make time for activities that rejuvenate you. The world needs you, with all your unique experiences to bring your voice to the table.

4. Set boundaries: Learn to say no confidently to commitments that don't align with your goals or values. Protecting your time and energy is crucial for long-term success.

Next steps

If the themes in this article resonate, why not book a free confidential call here to discuss?