IT managers often overlook self-care. People poo-poo it as softness or weakness, even though it can help teams avoid burnout and maintain their productivity and creativity. These 20 practices give self-care a place in how you manage your team.

  1. Explain how self-care affects productivity. Encourage your team to make time for it and show how it can improve performance.
  2. Practice self-care yourself. Share your experiences with the team and encourage them to do the same.
  3. Set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Encourage people to give their personal lives priority and take time off when they need it.
  4. Offer flexible schedules that help people balance work and personal life. Consider remote work or flexible hours.
  5. Encourage breaks throughout the day so people can recharge and refocus. Provide quiet rooms or designated spaces for meditation.
  6. Provide healthy snacks and drinks to help people maintain their energy and productivity throughout the day.
  7. Support physical activity with an on-site gym, group fitness classes or encouragement to walk or bike to work.
  8. Offer mental health support, including access to counseling services or mental health resources.
  9. Provide ergonomic workstations to reduce physical strain and support good posture. Standing desks and adjustable chairs are options to consider.
  10. Build trust through open communication. Invite people to discuss their struggles and offer support, helping the team create a positive work environment.
  11. Offer team activities that support self-care, such as yoga classes, mindfulness exercises or healthy cooking classes.
  12. Set realistic goals to reduce stress and give people a sense of accomplishment. Help them prioritize their workload and delegate when needed.
  13. Offer paid time off and encourage people to use it when they need to recharge and refocus.
  14. Recognize your team's hard work and celebrate its achievements. Recognition can lift morale and help create a positive work environment.
  15. Encourage people to reflect on the positive things in their lives. Consider opening team meetings with a gratitude exercise to support that habit and a positive mindset.
  16. Offer training in stress management techniques, including deep breathing, meditation and yoga. Give people access to mindfulness apps and videos.
  17. Encourage people to reflect on their self-care practices and identify what they could improve. Provide journaling prompts or guided meditations to help.
  18. Make wellness resources easy to find. Include healthy recipes, stress management tips and information on sleep hygiene.
  19. Encourage people to treat themselves with the kindness, empathy and care they would offer others.
  20. Check in with your team on a regular basis about their well-being. Offer support and use those conversations to identify where more resources or help would be useful.

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