Care for yourself like you care for your team

Lately, I’ve been thinking about health, not in a surface way, but in a real one.

Family conversations have a way of doing that. They bring genetics into focus and remind you that some patterns don’t start with you. They move quietly through generations. That realization can feel heavy, like parts of the story were written before you ever picked up the pen.

But awareness creates choice.

You can’t control your genetics. You can control your discipline. Taking care of your body isn’t about appearance. It’s about longevity. It’s about giving yourself the best possible chance to rewrite what you can. The same is true for your mind. Rest, boundaries, and space to process aren’t luxuries. They’re inputs. When your body feels stronger, your mind steadies. When your mind is steady, you’re present. And when you’re present, you show up differently for the people around you.

I was reminded of this recently while reading about Alysa Liu’s return to competitive figure skating. Early in her career, nearly every aspect of her skating was controlled by others. What she practiced, what she wore, what music she skated to, even how much she ate. At some point, the joy disappeared. So she stepped away.

When she came back, she did it on her own terms. She chose her music. She shaped her training. She owned her process. Her coaches say she’s a better skater now, not because the pressure increased, but because the drive comes from her. She protected the space she needed to be her best self, and the performance followed.

That idea stays with me as a leader.

When you protect your own space, you’re not being indulgent. You’re being intentional. You’re modeling something for the people around you. You’re showing that boundaries aren’t weakness, and that caring for yourself isn’t separate from caring about the work. As leaders, we carry many roles, and each draws from the same system. If I expect focus, resilience, and excellence from my team, I have a responsibility to demonstrate what it looks like to care for the whole person, not just the output.

The way you take care of yourself is the way you take care of everything else. Protect the system that carries you.

Keep learning.
Keep growing.

Have a great weekend.

Opinions are my own and do not represent NBCUniversal.