The Self-Care Routines & Practices Of Busy Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Ack Professional International , One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.

Research has shown that taking time for self-care can improve our lives in many ways. Based on my own experience by taking time for myself it enhances self-confidence, increases productivity, focus, health, and overall happiness to be my best self. Extending my life. It’s a proven path to help you live longer and lead a more fulfilling life.

All of us know that we have to take breaks in our day to take care of ourselves. “Selfcare is healthcare”, the saying goes. At the same time, we know that when you are a busy leader with enormous responsibility on your shoulders, it’s so easy to prioritize the urgent demands of work over the important requirements of self-care. How do busy entrepreneurs and leaders create space to properly take care of themselves? What are the self-care routines of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders? In this interview series, we are talking to busy and successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, and civic leaders who can discuss their self-care practices and self-care routines. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Michele Lee Occhipinti.

Founder of Ack Professional International, Michele Lee Occhipinti is a world class peak performance leadership, life and home strategist, empowering individuals to preserve their integrity, increase their leadership impact and overall life fulfillment raising the standards in their performance and that of the individuals they lead while increasing company culture, maximizing their full potential for success to be the best version of themselves. Michele brings along over two and half decades of experience working alongside executives, some at the most prestigious of worldwide companies to later join the rankings of one the top 1% in the world. Passionate to empower people to succeed both professionally & personally designing the life, they envision.

Michele is no stranger to the need of selfcare learning from its power at a young age to working in Corporate America for decades to empowering many individuals from around the world to bring out their best with her extensive experience. She brings a unique blend of life, leadership, business, and real estate experience to each of her clients. Understanding her client’s needs to bring out the best in themselves and the industries they lead to the property of their dreams. Her contributions allowed her to join the ranks of the nation’s best and to be here speaking with us today. We are delighted she has joined us.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! It is an honor. Our readers would love to learn more about your personal background. Can you please share with our readers your personal backstory; What has brought you to this point in your life?

Absolutely. It is my pleasure to share my experience with you.

After working a quarter of a century in the corporate world, running myself each day through the daily grind. Reaching a pivotal time in my life, I began to focus more on what was essential, what is important to me in life, my children had grown and graduated college, off in their careers and I knew where I was, was not where I wanted to be. I gained a tremendous amount of experience and began incorporating my passions with my experience in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, legal, banking, and coaching industries. Taking each opportunity as an experience to learn and grow and be even better. This empowered me to focus more on what I wanted to contribute to the world, following my integrity.

As a young child, born a DES daughter I’ve been mindful of my health from a very young age. Understanding for me to live the life I envisioned and be successful to achieve the goals I set out for myself, I needed to take care of me, my health and wellbeing for me to be at my best and live the life I envisioned.

Today, I continue the momentum and am more focused and driven than ever on making a difference in the world while I am here. Incorporating my experiences with some of the top leaders and my own personal experiences in life. It’s important that I continue making life happen and not sit waiting for it to happen. Consistently growing and innovating in areas that are rewarding to me. When you are providing a service that you are passionate about, it’s not work but rather, a labor of love.

The finest leaders I have had the privilege to work with are mentally and physically strong and are passionate about what they bring to the organization they lead. Many following rigorous routines to keep up with their busy schedules. Not to allow the stress or pressure overwhelm them but to have complete control of their emotions, decisions, and energy to lead their businesses effectively building trust and gaining repour to bring out the best in the individuals they lead and the company’s culture while driving the workforce passionately and creatively being resilient towards completing the mission. They are change leaders, building efficiency, consistently improving themselves and the business to bring out the best results. Holding standards high.

The individuals I work with throughout the world are passionate about their lives, seeking clarity and a level of higher achievement, both professionally and personally. Together, we outline the strategies they need to navigate the changes successfully for them to achieve the level they see in the world. Yes, achieving balance in life is a must for us. Believe me when I say it, you can have it all. It is creating an effective and efficient strategy that works well for you.

Continuously improving the way, we see success within us is essential to being successful. Our constant growth helps us learn what we seek to understand, learning from experiences and providing greater opportunity in the world to achieve the results we see for ourselves and implement the changes in the world.

What is your “why” behind what you do? What fuels you?

My why behind what I do is more about efficiency in life empowering others to do the same. Not to waste time nor regret time but to use time wisely. Witnessing many individuals in my professional and personal life not thriving in life and settling in areas that were not for their greater good. Life fuels me and appreciation ignites me. The need to make an impact and influence others in the world to achieve their success is a motivating factor. I realize each one of us is here for a short time and each day on earth is a gift. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have achieved the goals I have set out within my life to date. Realizing life could have been much different for me. Utilizing my greatest strengths to help others is the ultimate motivator for me. The decisions that lead me to where I am today were right for me. Our decisions ultimately lead to our destiny. My goal is to live to 100. It’s up to each one of us to set the goals and follow through in this life. Making the best out of time here overcoming the obstacles that come along the way in life towards our greater success. Consistently innovating to the next level. Inspired by each opportunity that presents to make a greater impact in the world.

How do you define success? Can you please explain what you mean from a personal anecdote?

Success to me is living life on the terms we placed on ourselves. Each one of us defines success differently. Following your beliefs and values to the purpose for what you want to contribute to the world, the life you envision. Being able to experience life when you want, with the people you choose, anywhere in the world, reaching the ultimate destiny. Being the best version of you. We are not defined by our challenges but ultimately the success, our contribution to the world.

When I was younger success to me had a lot to do with monetary factors achieved in my career. Personally, professionally and throughout my life I defined my success when achieving a goal and continued raising the value of the standards in life achieving the next level of my success. I felt successful when I was consistently achieving the goals, I set out to in my life whether that was in my career, health, financial, education, contribution and setting that bar high as a constant movement achieving success. Thriving in life is important, without it we are stagnant in our lives and likely unfulfilled. We need to grow in the areas that we see for our greater self. Once we achieve the level of success we seek, it’s the next level we see to be our best. It does not just stop once we reach the first level. There is always a next level to our success constantly evolving on earth.

In my life I feel blessed that I have overcome so many obstacles and out weighted the odds that were stacked up pretty high against me ever since I was born and continued to pursue life inspired by continuing to raise the standard by setting them high and being resilient to make it happen.

Time is a commodity. Just like time, our energy too is sparse, I find it beneficial by creating a daily routine for your success, one that works in conjunction with goals and following through with it is an excellent way of becoming the best version of you. Understanding what each of us personally needs to gain the success we see; it’s not a one size fits all approach. A successful routine gives you a laser like focus from the second you wake in the morning till you go to sleep. Providing the energy to go the extra mile, like running a marathon each day knowing you will cross the finish line. Assuring you have time allotted to complete the priorities that are most important to you in your life moving forward outlining a strategy for the future to be your best.

What is the role of a growth mindset in your success? Can you please share 3 mindset mantras that keep you motivated, sane, and propel you forward?

The role of a growth mindset is constantly evolving towards your greater success. It doesn’t stop once you reach the level of success you see but continuing to grow and thrive in the areas most essential to you and evolve to reach the next level. Learning along the way. We all require specific needs to be met in our lives to be ultimately fulfilled some areas of needs are higher than others. Each of us is unique and have different values and beliefs to follow our integrity in life.

Mantras for me. Well personally, I rely more on incantations to give me the motivational boost to propel forward to succeed:

For instance, when I feel overwhelmed or unmotivated, I simply tell myself:

“I can, I will, it must be done!”

When self-esteem may be running low, I like to say:

“Be the light, be the love, be the happiness, be you!”

One I like to say often is when feeling uncertain:

“Forgive me, I love you, believe in me!”

I often entwine breathing exercises to refocus and recalibrate, often taking it outdoors as I enjoy nature. When creating your own mantra or incantation, it’s the words we focus on so choose the words that resonate with you to motivate your success and be in a place where you are centered and grounded to be your best self.

You are by all accounts a very successful person. How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Thank you for your kindness. After a long career in Corporate America, I reached a significant time in my life, when my children graduated college and were off in their own careers, where status and fortune were no longer top priorities. I took the time to focus on my passions and what was essential for me to contribute, incorporating my experience alongside executives with the inner confidence within me. This provided the focus on what I wanted to give to the world, following my own integrity. I then decided what was the next level for me to later join the rankings of the top coaches. Personally & professionally by continually outweighing the odds that were stacked against me in life to be better to give the same in today’s world and know there are so many individuals to empower towards their success. Not to let others define who I truly am and want to be in this world. Its up to each and everyone of us to create the power within us to achieve the vision we see for success. It was never handed to me.

Today, I continue the momentum and focused on a larger picture and goals I have sought out to making a difference in the world on my own terms. It’s important that I am continually evolving just like the earth making life happen for me and not waiting for it to magically be given. I enjoy setting goals and achieving them and helping others do the same. When you are providing a service that you are passionate about, it’s not work but, rather, a labor of love.

One of my top motivators is that of altruistic and enjoy giving to others and being a part of the success. I internally feel good just by helping in the world it is what lights me up and make me feel good internally.

Second one is of power and the ability to influence others. Third is that of appreciation. Its simple words of appreciation such as saying thank you, I appreciate you that go along way for me to go the extra mile.

Continually using my greater strengths and the experience gained to be successful in life to help others achieve the success they see in the world in leadership, life, and in their home.

Can you share a mistake or failure which you now appreciate, and which has taught you a valuable lesson?

Interesting question, personally I feel I have not failed until I stop trying or putting time and effort into something that is not going right. I am resilient in life and optimistic continuing even when something is not going as planned to put my best foot forward. Just like when running a marathon, when I ran the Boston Marathon for the first time, I was contributing to helping others in need which is one of my top motivators to succeed and was determined to cross the finish line while also helping others on the way. Learning from challenging areas that did not go as well as expected such as heartbreak hill and asking myself what I will do better next time. Determined to finish.

If I look at a time in life that I feel I made a mistake which I now appreciate it would be from following success in my career for monetary means. Although that focus did allow me many great opportunities to work with some of the best in the world and learn, it did not lead me to my greater self but rather provided more clarity to focus on what I was here to achieve.

You are a successful leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Thank you. I greatly appreciate the compliment. For me, I believe the top tree character traits that are instrumental to my success are:

First being optimistic. This is a trait I have had ever since I was a young child. I feel fortunate it has followed me throughout my life. Especially when times were extremely challenging. It’s a trait I am most known for working alongside some of the greatest leaders to those individuals I work with and people that know me well. I can recall receiving compliments on the optimism I embrace when in the process of a reorganization in one of the world’s top companies and the office morale was extremely low, one of the leaders would often confide in me for strategic advice. The best compliment received “Michele you always manage to bring out the best in the worst situations, I don’t know how you do it but you’ve changed my focus, well done”. Literally by taking the reorganization for what it was and the people that were impacted and using their strengths and weaknesses towards the mission on what many would find as a detrimental time as one of opportunity to the individuals impacted which was reciprocated positively.

Another… “You keep coming out shining when the world is falling apart.” At a time when challenges in my life were overwhelming me and I continued to pursue and be resilient in moving forward following my integrity.

Second for me is being resilient. Resilient in the success I see. Determining the goal and outlining the strategy and committing to it. Even when it does not work out as anticipated. I see a goal I want to achieve, and I continue going for it. The strategy may need to be fine-tuned due to circumstances out of my control, but I am determined once I commit to it to make it happen. For instance, for my 50th birthday I decided I was going to run my first marathon. I had participated in 5K, 10K, half marathons, triathlons but not a full marathon. I then determined which Marathon I would run and when, well of course I chose Boston. Decided on a charity to run for which was the Bill Belichick Foundation and outlined what I needed to do to make it happen. Determined a deadline for each of the areas to achieve. Yes, there severe weather days that impeded by training schedule or days when I ran 13 miles to the marina and literally could not walk on the docks to the boat, but I was committed each day to do my best and get up and continue to succeed. Learning from each run what I could do better to complete the goal. Running my first marathon at 50 was not an easy task and was 1 of small amount of people that was not vaccinated in the middle of the COVID crossing the finish line pushing forward to make it happen. I like being unique, being myself and motivated by helping others. Life is just like the marathon you continually look at areas you can do better and raise the standard to be your best self.

The third being self-confident. This is another characteristic I have held since I was young, trusting in my own abilities qualities and judgement and it has allowed me to be determined to make life happen. The more I achieved in life, the more my confidence increased. The ability to accept and trust myself to have a sense of control in my life. I understand my strengths and weaknesses well and have a positive view of myself which has a lot to do with setting expectations and goals and treating myself with the self-care and dignity, communicating effectively with assertiveness by making the right decisions that I believe to be true. Accepting criticism for what it is but confident to achieve the success I seek for myself. My daily routines have a lot to do with building self confidence in how I treat myself, care for myself, educate and nurture myself helps build the confidence within me. The foods that nourish me, the exercises that increase my inner strength, surrounding myself in this life with highly educated and successful experts in life provided some of the inner confidence. Remember who you surround yourself with is who you become. I needed to make the right decisions for me feeling confident in my abilities.

OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview about Self-Care. Let’s start with a basic definition so that we are all on the same page. What does self-care mean to you?

Several organizations and researchers take a health-oriented approach when defining self-care. The World Health Organization defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.”

Self-care includes ways a person needs to stay physically and emotional healthy this can include hygiene, nutrition, nurturing and taking action to receive the medical care needed. The steps an individual takes to manage its stress in life and take care of their own health and wellbeing.

The International Self Care Foundation also includes health literacy as an area to support self-care, understanding that any steps a person takes toward better understanding their health and the appropriate decisions made about your health and well-being is considered self-care, as well.

As a peak performance strategist many times people come to me for the right strategy that will work for them outlining their routine self-care for success. It is obvious to me self-care is also about the individual person. Each of us has different beliefs on what self-care entails for our wellbeing. Focusing on what each of us needs to be fulfilled in our own self care is essential to our success.

Self-care is not synonymous with self-indulgence or being selfish. Self-care means taking care of yourself so that you are healthy, you are well, you do your job even better, you will help and care for others, and you can and will do all the actions you seek to accomplish in a day. We know by placing self-care at the beginning of our daily routine we are allowing ourselves to be at our best throughout the day. Just consider how you feel when you take care of yourself. How better your performance is when you feel good about you.

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that by taking care of ourselves, focusing on our needs for what we want to contribute and be in this life is our choice. When we take care of ourselves, we take better care of the situations that surround us even better. If we are not well, mentally or physically we cannot help our family, friends or co-workers to be better. If we are burnt out, we are only giving a fraction of ourselves. We set the example in our care to others. Self-care is an essential component to our success.

Self-care is taking steps to tend to your physical and emotional health needs to be your best self for you to achieve the success you seek to achieve in the world.

As a successful leader with an intense schedule, what do you do to prioritize self-care, and carve out regular time to make self-care part of your routine?

For me, determining a self-care routine for my success. Which begins each morning before getting out of bed with a morning meditation, this can be in any area I need to focus on that day. Then having 16oz of lemon water as researchers say we are all dehydrated when we wake each morning, allowing our bodies to hydrate with lemon water or pure water provides many well-known benefits such as helping with digestion, weight loss, preventing oxidation, providing an antioxidant boost, and acting as a detoxifying agent.

Then I follow a rigorous routine that transitions depending on my needs for the day. Beginning each day with:

Meditation:

Meditating in areas I need to increase. Gratitude is the perfect way to begin each and every day. Studies show the many benefits an individual receiving when practicing gratitude on a daily basis:

“The Science of Gratitude” (2018) indicated in its study the following benefits:

For the individual(s): increased happiness and positive mood to more overall satisfaction with life, less likely to experience burnout, better physical health, better sleep, less fatigue, lower levels of cellular inflammation, greater resiliency to stress, and encourages the development of patience, humility, and wisdom.

For groups and teams(s):

Practicing gratitude increases social behaviors, strengthens relationships, may help employees’ effectiveness, and increase job satisfaction.

In uncertain times having a grateful attitude can be essential for success. In fact, it is precisely under crisis conditions when we have the most to gain by having a grateful perspective on life. Gratitude has the power to energize us in creativity grounding us on our overall perspective in life. It provides the power to heal when you are broken and in times of despair gratitude has the power to open your mind and bring hope.

Recent studies show that regularly practicing gratitude can also help ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

A simple meditation including gratitude can be completed in as little as 3 minutes. I personally like to use Aura.

Exercise:

We all know the most successful of people all exercise in some way shape or form and many of these leaders are the best in their class at what they put their mind to. When it comes to exercise, the best time of day to get in a workout session is one that you can do consistently. Everyone is different. I for one enjoy first thing in the morning and at sunset, adding variety in my workout routine, from running, or on my Peloton, off on my road bike ride, walking the road, hiking, yoga, or weight training and during the warmer months swimming. Variety is the name of the game for me it keeps me motivated when it comes to exercising. I do specific exercises certain times of the week assuring I get a specific number of workouts in. The right exercise is also determined based on the goal I have set for myself at that time. Consider the goal you want for yourself then determined the exercise routine.

While there is not a one-size-fits-all answer, I prefer the morning workout that provides many different benefits and helps with focus and consistent energy throughout the day. Sunset workouts are nice but are generally done on low impact workouts such as walking, short run, hiking or yoga.

If you are on the fence about starting a morning workout routine, consider the following benefits:

Less distractions leading to a successful workout:

Morning workouts typically mean you are less prone to distractions. When you first wake up, you have not begun tackling the day. You are also less likely to get phone calls, text messages, and emails or be boggled down with interruptions from the family.

Determining a goal with fewer distractions will lead you to complete a successful workout. Plus, its likely you have more energy to put into the workout first thing in the morning. If you have children try to set your schedule to workout prior to them waking up. See how you feel each day you work out each day in the morning to help motivate you to continue.

Inspires healthier food choices:

An early morning workout could set the tone for a healthier day choosing healthier meals and food choices throughout the day.

A Brigham Young University study suggested that morning exercisers may have less of an appetite throughout the day which can potentially help with weight loss.

A professor in a recent study at the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill says working out in the morning when your stomach is empty is the best way to burn stored fat, making it ideal for weight loss. It is mainly due to the body’s hormonal composition in the morning that it is set up to support that goal.

“In the early morning hours, you have a hormonal profile that would predispose you to better metabolism of fat”. People naturally have elevated levels of cortisol and growth hormone in the morning which help with the body’s metabolism so you will “draw more of your energy from your fat reserves,” The professor said.

Even if you are not a morning person and hate early workouts first thing in the morning can quickly become second nature. Studies in the Journal of Physiology on exercise found that exercising at 7 a.m. can shift your body clock earlier, meaning you’ll feel more alert in the morning and get tired earlier in the evening, potentially priming your body to a schedule for a good night’s rest.

More energy throughout the day:

By exercising early, you may feel more energized throughout the day.

A regular morning routine is excellent for boosting energy and reducing fatigue. When you work out, oxygen and nutrients travel to your heart and lungs improving your cardiovascular system, endurance, and overall stamina.

Better focus:

Physical activity also improves focus and concentration, regardless of when you do it. But if you have trouble focusing during the day, a morning workout might be just the ticket.

A 2019 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that morning exercise improves attention, visual learning, and decision-making.

Less stress and better mood:

Exercise is a natural remedy for stress. During physical activity, your brain makes more endorphins, which in turn provides the “feel-good” neurotransmitters behind a runner’s high. It also doubles as a distraction from anxious thoughts lowering anxiety.

Morning exercise is a great way to start the day on the positive note. You will feel a sense of accomplishment, giving you an optimistic outlook going about your day.

Now that you have the positives on beginning an exercise routine for the morning hours. Let’s move forward in creating your routine.

Eat Healthy
The fuel you consume in the morning has a significant effect on your ongoing performance throughout the day.

Staying away from high-sugar, high-fat breakfasts and instead for me I like organic fresh fruit, yogurt, and coconut milk smoothies, try oatmeal, smoothies, fruit and yogurt parfait, or even lighter and simple celery juice.

Unless you are seeking lose weight consider good carbs and fiber plus some protein. Those foods will give you energy and satisfy your food cravings while setting the stage for good decisions all day. What is best for you. Continue healthy eating habits throughout the day. I like to follow a regime of fresh organic fruits, vegetables, and seafood. As an executive chef’s wife, it can be challenging yet rewarding! I am constantly advocating on healthy alternatives in our home and striving for the next breakthrough in recipes using organic fruits, vegetables and healthy alternatives. Use your greatest strengths in life to be your best to provide to the world.

2. Take a Cold Shower or Plunge

This is must for me. It may seem a little extreme, but many people swear by taking cold showers each morning. I for one never enjoyed the cold until I learned of Wim Hofs method. Now I will do yoga in the snow barefoot in the yard on snowy days. It is similar to athletes who take cold plunges. Providing many health benefits. Consider the Win Hof method of breathing, cold therapy, and commitment. There is a two-minute beginner course on how to take cold showers. I often recommend to my clients. Its all about focus.

The many benefits of this method are reducing stress levels, greater cold tolerance, faster recovery, enhanced creativity, stronger immune system, increased energy, better sleep, heightened focus and determination, improved sports performance, and increased will power.

3. Commit to Life Balance

Whether you are working remotely or in the office. Set your working hours. In office hours. Regardless of if you are the CEO. This can be challenging for many people especially those that have a family and small child but is essential whether you are an executive, or an administrative employee assuring you are not burning yourself out at both ends and providing balance in your life. Commit to a schedule of working hours and then prioritize your work schedule accordingly. Set boundaries in your day. I often tell my clients, do not look at your messages first thing in the morning as it will prioritize your day. Give yourself time for you to get to your best self then take on the other commitments.

Communicate if you are a leader your policy on those that reach out to your after working hours and provide your guidelines on what constitutes an emergency, and you can be interrupted for after those hours and what can be emailed and responded to before your next scheduled meeting and those items that require an outcome prior to when you meet to those items that can realistically wait for the 1:1 meeting. Communicate effectively and provide your expectations. Determine what requires an immediate response and what warrants your time after working hours. Prioritize effectively.

4. Decide on an Evening Ritual

In the evening, I like to make it a priority to let go of the workday and focus on family, friends or other self-care routines. Unless there is an important matter requiring my immediate attention. Disconnecting your mind away from the stress and responsibilities of the day and focusing in on you and the family (if this is relevant to your situation) everyone is different.

Evenings are best for decompressing and left for enjoying time with those you love and planning and preparing for the next day. Making meals, setting priorities, reviewing and celebrating what went well during the day. By celebrating the areas you did achieve it increases the endorphins and good hormones to seek to achieve again tomorrow. Many of my clients enjoy journalling or taking the time to learn more in an area of interest towards their success. Use this time to complete what is needed for you and your situation.

Will you please share with our readers 3 of your daily, or frequent self-care habits?

My top self-care habits are:

Eating healthy throughout the day.

Exercising once or twice depending on the day with one or two days off a week.

Meditation each morning in the areas I would like to improve.

Hydrating with water consistently throughout the day.

Cool plunges or cold showers.

This is the main question of our interview. Based on your own experiences or research can you please share 5 ways that taking time for self-care will improve our lives?

Research has shown that taking time for self-care can improve our lives in many ways. Based on my own experience by taking time for myself it enhances self-confidence, increases productivity, focus, health, and overall happiness to be my best self. Extending my life. It’s a proven path to help you live longer and lead a more fulfilling life.

On days that I have not followed the regime due to travel, restrictions, or change in schedule due to emergencies I notice a decrease in my energy and focus which leads to my inner confidence, overall happiness and wellbeing.

Recent research according to a Gallop survey in mental health has indicated a record number in the US of more than 1 in 6 adults indicating they are either receiving treatment for depression or are currently depressed. That is an astonishing rate but we can make a difference focusing in on the areas that are leading to this depression.

The importance of self-care is well documented and national research cited the benefits of why practicing self-care is essential to our success, enhancing self-confidence by 64%, increased productivity 67%, and overall happiness and wellbeing by an astonishing 71%. Self-care helps us to manage stress which we all have in our lives, lowers our risk of illness, and increases our energy.

Focus on the areas each and every day that increase your mind body and spirit for you to be your best.

Sometimes we learn a great deal from the opposite, from a contrast. Can you please share a few ways that NOT taking time for self-care can harm our lives?

Within my life, I have seen the best in life but have also seen the worst. Witnessing individuals who struggle with mental health and addiction deteriorate in my life. It’s heartbreaking. The more we know the more we can help others in the world. As a coach its prioritizing healthy alternatives that each individual needs each day to fulfill and bring out our best to achieve the goals we set out in life. The addiction is one that fulfills several of the persons needs that likely are not being fulfilled in their life. Later losing control in life to the addiction.

I’ve witnessed individuals in life pass by cancer and others be controlled by drugs or alcohol and learned at a very young age in order for me to live the life I envision and be my best its important to focus in the areas that provided a positive outcome to me and brought joy and satisfaction in my life and to follow my integrity and not what others expected of me but what I truly believed to be right for me. What we all have control of in our lives is our decisions and emotions. Make the best decisions that are right for each of us in this life.

By not prioritizing self-care you may find yourself like a robot without any emotion and little satisfaction and joy in life, low confidence and self-esteem, seeking unhealthy alternatives to increase the fulfillment in life. Each of us has needs in this life that need to be met for us to achieve happiness within our lives.

What would you tell someone who says they do not have time or finances to support a regular wellness routine?

As a peak performance strategist, I often hear this excuse. When someone says to me, they do not have the time or finances to support a wellness routine. I ask that individual many different questions based on their motivational factors and outcomes. Some that come to mind are:

How important is your life to you?

Are you happy where you currently are?

As a leader how would they feel if one of their reports came to work providing a fraction of their work ethic?

What does your health and wellbeing mean to you?

What will you lose if you don’t care for yourself? What will you gain?

Is it important for you to have control of your life or to allow others to take the control? Just waiting for life to happen.. Then its time to prioritize what is essential to you.

Then walk through what success looks like to them. Ask them to describe it in detail. What will they need to make that happen. Then ask do they see themselves making it happen anytime soon and do they believe they can achieve it without good health and wellbeing? What will it feel like if they are in the same place as they are today 5 years from now? That question generally brings a drop in energy.

Like they say in life when you’re traveling on the plane put your oxygen mask on first then help others. As we like to say on the island put your life vest on first when traveling on the boat. You can’t help others without helping yourself first. You will likely not survive long only giving a fraction of you. Be your best at all you provide, determine the right routine that works for you to maximize your full potential.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)

In my life, I feel particularly grateful to have worked alongside and met some amazing people. What is consistent that I have witnessed is in today’s world the most successful are both mentally and physically fit prioritizing their self-care and providing their best to the individuals that surround them and organizations they lead. Leading by example. This is one area I conveyed to my children as they were growing up, you are to do well in life both athletically and academically and to take care of yourself. Life is short, time is fast. There is only one you.

I have an inspiring interest in speaking to the first ladies of the world. Jill Biden is one that enjoys the island of Nantucket where my business is based. I would someday like to speak to her personally during one of her visits on Nantucket and possibly have lunch with her whether that be at one of the finer restaurants on the island or provided by my husband Joseph, an amazing executive chef, he has had the opportunity of cooking for many well-known worldwide dignitaries. I would be interested to hear her routine for success to be her best in the White House.

What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?

Absolutely. For those interested in maximizing their full potential in leadership, life and in the home building a self-care strategy for your future success, please visit my website to learn more about me and the premier services provided. Apply to the program that is best for you. Subscribe to learn more and stay up to date on the latest or learn more on our Grow Your Vision resources page. I welcome opportunity to empower you to be your best.

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This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.

My pleasure, I greatly appreciated and thank you for the opportunity to speak on the importance of self-care and wish you much success in your article for Authority Magazine.

Have an amazing day. Be the best version of you!