Three Tips from the CEO level to assist in preserving your mental health

I would be remised if I did not share an article in the month of May focusing on mental health from a Chief Executive Officer’s perspective.  I have been a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since 2010 and I remember very vividly the day that I chose bravely to launch my very first Clinical Research Organization.  The mental health improvements that I have made for myself since 2010 to current are very different.  This is a valid point to recognize because often you must make sure to pivot based on situations that challenge your mental health. Based on the many years that I have been a CEO; I would like to make a few suggestions to assist in your own mental health improvement.

The first tip is to always choose yourself first.  Often as a CEO, especially a service centered CEO, we need to be mindful to always choose ourselves first.  If that means that you decide to take the morning off because you traveled the entire day prior and returned home early morning of the next day, you should take the morning for yourself.  Before I used to prioritize myself first, I would feel extremely guilty not being at work because the rest of my teams were working that day.  As a CEO, we are pressured to always perform, but we must remember to choose ourselves first.  If you need to end your day early, start your day late or start a new project the next day due to other competing priorities then you should do so.  While you are choosing yourself first, the rest of your colleagues and teams will recognize that you prioritize yourself first.  This is a powerful message to everyone that you work with to see the impact that it makes by you prioritizing yourself first.  

The second tip is to be very mindful of the amount of sleep that you receive daily.  I have scheduled my nighttime routine on my personal cell phone which will provide me with reminders of my wind down time starting and when it is ultimately time for me to go to bed.  I also use a couple of applications on my phone every evening even while traveling.  The one application I use tracks my deep sleep versus light sleep.  It is important for you to measure the quality of your sleep daily so that you are aware of changes that you might need to make. I also use an application for mindful meditations and music.  I listen to either music or meditations to assist with my brain relaxing.  As a CEO, we are tasked with having to think on our feet or regarding various matters at the same time, so our brains are tired by the end of the day.  It is important to relax and enjoy meditations or music.  Breathing is so valuable.  Have gratitude for your mind, body, and spirit.

The third tip is to pay close attention to your nutrition. Ask yourself these questions regarding your nutritional habits. What type of foods are you eating?  When are you eating the food?  How do you feel when you are eating?  Have you smelled your food prior to eating it?  What are the portions that you are serving?  How much water are you consuming?  Slowing yourself down to enjoy your food is so critical for your digestion.  As we have learned through years of research, your gut processes better when you are in a relaxed environment enjoying your food rather than rushing and eating whatever you can on the fly.  Try to meal plan, hire a personal chef to cook and supply food to you weekly, order food weekly for deliveries if you have the time to cook.  Along with enjoying and eating the proper food it is also important to monitor how much water you consume daily.  Again, take the time to stay hydrated.  Hydration helps improve your mood and is good for the body.

Making these minor improvements will positively affect your mental health. It is critical to remember that you may have to pivot from time to time based on the stress levels you are currently experiencing.  Personally, I have pivoted multiple times in my life to support me when needed.  Choosing yourself first will make it so much easier for you to accomplish additional mental health goals that are needed. Be empathetic with yourself. Remember, all eyes are on you.  You must be an example of proactive mental health practices.

Written by Christina DiArcangelo.
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