Leadership & Wellbeing: Why Women Must Prioritize Both

Women in leadership roles are often celebrated for their resilience, adaptability, and ability to juggle multiple responsibilities. But behind the scenes, many high-achieving women are struggling with exhaustion, stress, and the constant pressure to prove themselves. While leadership success and personal wellbeing are often treated as separate priorities, the truth is that they are deeply interconnected. When women neglect their wellbeing, their leadership effectiveness suffers. On the other hand, when they prioritize their energy, emotional balance, and overall health, they become stronger, more influential leaders.

In this article, I’ll explore why wellbeing is not a luxury for women in leadership—it’s a necessity.

The Reality: The Leadership-Wellbeing Dilemma

Women in leadership navigate a complex landscape filled with high expectations, systemic barriers, and personal responsibilities that can take a serious toll on their wellbeing. While leadership can be rewarding, it often comes with challenges that make prioritizing self-care feel nearly impossible.

Let’s break down some of the biggest obstacles women leaders face when it comes to maintaining their wellbeing:

The Pressure to Overperform

Many women feel they have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts to earn the same level of respect and recognition. This pressure isn’t imagined—it’s a reality backed by research. Women leaders are often judged more harshly, expected to be more competent, and held to higher standards than men in similar roles.

Because of this, women frequently:

• Take on more projects to prove their worth.

• Work longer hours out of fear of being seen as less committed.

• Over-prepare for meetings and presentations to ensure they are taken seriously.

  
  

Women leaders are often judged more harshly, expected to be more competent, and held to higher standards than men in similar roles.

This relentless drive to achieve leads to exhaustion, self-doubt, and ultimately, burnout. The irony? Burned-out leaders are less effective, which reinforces the very struggles they were trying to overcome.

The Emotional and Mental Load of Leadership

Leadership isn’t just about strategy and decision-making—it’s also about managing people, relationships, and team morale. Women, in particular, are often expected to be the emotional backbone of their organizations.

This includes:

• Providing emotional support to employees who are struggling.

• Mediating conflicts and ensuring a positive team dynamic.

• Balancing empathy with authority, often walking a fine line between being “too soft” and “too tough.”

Beyond the workplace, many women also carry the bulk of emotional labor at home—managing family responsibilities, making household decisions, and supporting their partners and children. The weight of these responsibilities can be overwhelming, leaving little time or energy for personal wellbeing.

The Expectation of Self-Sacrifice

Society still glorifies the image of the selfless woman who puts everyone else’s needs before her own. This cultural expectation is deeply ingrained, making many women feel guilty for prioritizing themselves.

Common internal thoughts include:

• “If I take time for myself, I’m being selfish.”

• “I should be grateful for my position—I don’t have time to rest.”

• “My team/family needs me more than I need a break.”

This mindset leads women to push through exhaustion, ignore their own needs, and normalize stress as part of the job. Over time, this self-neglect results in chronic fatigue, anxiety, decreased motivation, and even physical health issues.

Burnout, Stress, and Health Consequences

The long-term effects of neglecting wellbeing are severe. Studies show that women are more likely than men to experience stress-related illnesses, including:

• Insomnia and sleep disturbances

• Increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure

• Chronic fatigue and weakened immune function

• Anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion

When women operate in a constant state of stress, their cognitive function, creativity, and ability to lead effectively are all compromised.

When women operate in a constant state of stress, their cognitive function, creativity, and ability to lead effectively are all compromised. They may find themselves struggling with decision fatigue, second-guessing their choices, or losing the passion that once drove them.

Women in leadership are often caught in a double bind—expected to be strong, competent, and endlessly available while also maintaining warmth, empathy, and selflessness. The result? A cycle of stress, overwork, and burnout that not only harms individual women but also weakens organizations as a whole.

But here’s the truth: Prioritizing wellbeing is not a sign of weakness—it’s a leadership advantage. When women take care of themselves, they show up as sharper, more present, and more effective leaders. Breaking the cycle of burnout isn’t just about personal health; it’s about redefining leadership for the next generation.

Why Wellbeing is a Leadership Strategy

For too long, leadership has been associated with relentless hustle, long hours, and sacrificing personal needs for professional success. Women in leadership often feel the pressure to push through exhaustion, believing that resilience means enduring stress rather than managing it. But what if we’ve been looking at leadership all wrong?

The truth is wellbeing isn’t just a personal luxury—it’s a strategic advantage. The most effective leaders aren’t the ones who burn the candle at both ends; they’re the ones who understand that sustained success comes from managing their energy, not just their time. Research continues to show that leaders who prioritize their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing make better decisions, foster stronger relationships, and lead with greater clarity and confidence.

Think about it:

• A burned-out leader reacts to challenges with stress and frustration, while a well-rested leader responds with creativity and composure.

• A leader running on empty struggles to inspire and engage others, while a leader who prioritizes self-care naturally motivates those around them.

• A leader who neglects their emotional health may struggle with confidence, while a leader who cultivates mindfulness and emotional intelligence fosters trust and resilience in their team.

In today’s high-stakes work environments, wellbeing isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s a leadership imperative. Leaders who take care of themselves set the standard for their teams, shaping workplace cultures that prioritize sustainable success rather than short-term survival. Women in leadership have a unique opportunity to redefine what it means to be successful—not by working harder, but by leading smarter.

This shift isn’t just about preventing burnout; it’s about unlocking your full leadership potential. By prioritizing your own wellbeing, you don’t just show up better for yourself—you show up better for your team, your organization, and the mission you’re driving forward.

When you invest in your wellbeing as a leader, you gain tangible benefits that extend beyond personal health. Here’s how wellbeing directly enhances your leadership effectiveness:

Better Decision-Making

Chronic stress and exhaustion impair cognitive function, leading to impulsive choices, second-guessing, and decision fatigue. Leaders who prioritize their mental and physical wellbeing—through rest, exercise, and mindfulness—experience improved focus, sharper critical thinking, and the ability to make well-balanced, strategic decisions under pressure.

When you invest in your wellbeing as a leader, you gain tangible benefits that extend beyond personal health.

Increased Resilience

Leadership comes with inevitable setbacks, challenges, and high-pressure situations. A leader’s ability to navigate these moments with clarity and confidence depends on their resilience. Wellbeing practices such as emotional regulation, self-care, and stress management help women leaders recover faster from adversity, adapt to change, and maintain composure in difficult situations.

Stronger Relationships & Influence

Emotional intelligence—the ability to manage your own emotions and understand those of others—is a key predictor of leadership success. Leaders who are physically and emotionally drained struggle to connect with their teams. However, those who cultivate self-awareness, practice empathy, and set healthy boundaries foster deeper trust, inspire loyalty, and create positive workplace cultures where people thrive.

Sustainable Success

Success that comes at the cost of your health and happiness isn’t sustainable. Many women leaders push themselves to the brink, only to find that burnout erodes the very success they worked so hard to build. By integrating wellbeing into leadership, women can create careers that are both impactful and fulfilling, achieving long-term success without sacrificing themselves in the process.

How Women Leaders Can Start Prioritizing Wellbeing

For many women in leadership, the idea of prioritizing wellbeing can feel like just one more thing to add to an already overwhelming to-do list. But the truth is, when you make wellbeing a priority, you’re not just investing in yourself—you’re investing in the success and sustainability of your leadership.

It doesn’t require an overhaul of your routine or a massive lifestyle change; rather, it’s about making small, intentional shifts that have a lasting impact. Here are some actionable strategies women leaders can begin using today to prioritize their wellbeing:

1. Set Boundaries to Protect Your Energy

As a leader, you're likely accustomed to juggling multiple responsibilities and tending to the needs of others. However, without clear boundaries, it’s easy to burn out. Start by identifying your limits—physically, emotionally, and mentally—and communicate those boundaries to others. Whether it’s setting work hours, delegating tasks, or saying no to additional responsibilities, setting boundaries ensures that you preserve the energy necessary to lead effectively.

For example, you might choose to no longer answer emails after a certain time or make time for uninterrupted breaks during your day. Prioritizing your own needs is not selfish—it’s essential for maintaining the energy and focus you need to lead.

Self-care is creating consistent habits that support your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

2. Make Self-Care Non-Negotiable

Self-care isn’t just about pampering yourself with occasional spa days—it’s about creating consistent habits that support your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. While self-care looks different for everyone, the key is to make it a regular part of your routine.

Start with small changes: schedule exercise or movement into your calendar like any

other meeting, prioritize quality sleep, and eat meals that nourish your body. Mental self-care is just as important—consider incorporating mindfulness practices such as meditation, journaling, or simply taking a few minutes to reflect and decompress during the day.

One powerful strategy is to block off time each week dedicated solely to self-care, whether it’s physical, emotional, or mental. Treat it as a priority, not a luxury.

3. Cultivate Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Emotional intelligence—the ability to understand and manage your emotions, and recognize and influence the emotions of others—is a critical skill for leadership. As a woman in leadership, cultivating EI can help you navigate challenges with greater resilience and empathy, which, in turn, leads to stronger relationships and more effective decision-making.

Begin by practicing self-awareness: take time to identify your emotional triggers, understand what energizes or drains you, and recognize the impact of your emotions on your leadership. Then, work on self-regulation—learning to manage your reactions, especially in high-pressure situations. Finally, strengthen your empathy and social skills by actively listening to your team and offering support when needed.

4. Foster Supportive Networks

As a leader, you don’t have to go it alone. In fact, one of the most important ways to protect your wellbeing is by building a supportive network of peers, mentors, and trusted colleagues who understand your unique challenges and can offer guidance, encouragement, and feedback.

Women leaders often struggle with the feeling of isolation, but reaching out for support doesn’t show weakness—it strengthens your leadership. Consider creating a mastermind group, seeking out a mentor, or simply engaging in regular conversations with colleagues who share similar experiences. Having a strong support system allows you to share ideas, troubleshoot issues, and replenish your energy, both professionally and personally.

5. Practice Mindful Leadership

Mindfulness—the practice of staying present and focused in the moment—can be a powerful tool for women leaders seeking to prioritize their wellbeing. In the midst of constant demands, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or distracted, but mindful leadership encourages you to be intentional in how you show up, make decisions, and interact with your team.

Start by practicing mindful breathing before meetings or difficult conversations, which can help you remain calm and focused. Also, take time throughout your day to check in with yourself and assess how you're feeling. Are you stressed? Are you overwhelmed? Being present with yourself enables you to be more present for your team, fostering a culture of attentiveness, clarity, and authenticity.

The idea that leadership requires self-sacrifice is outdated. The best leaders don’t just push through stress—they manage their energy, protect their wellbeing, and model a healthier way to lead. When women embrace wellbeing as a leadership strategy, they don’t just improve their own lives—they elevate their teams, their organizations, and the future of leadership itself.

For too long, women in leadership have been expected to sacrifice their wellbeing for success. But the most effective leaders understand that personal energy and professional impact go hand in hand. By prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries, and embracing a sustainable leadership style, women can not only thrive in their careers but also redefine what it means to lead with strength and balance.

So, the real question isn’t “Can I afford to take care of myself?”—it’s “Can I afford not to?”

Are you ready to lead with energy and intention? Start by making one small change today.

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Your leadership is only as strong as the energy that sustains it. What would change if your wellbeing became non-negotiable?

Your leadership deserves the energy to match it. Enrollment is now open for the January 2026 Personal Energy Management for High-Achieving Women cohort.

Join us — and start the new year leading from strength, balance, and clarity.