Honoring The Strength And Resilience Of Women

7 Ways Women Can Recharge This International Women’s Day

On this special day, we come together to celebrate the remarkable achievements, unwavering strength, and boundless resilience of women around the world.

International Women’s Day serves as a poignant reminder of the countless contributions women make to society, often in the face of adversity and inequality.

From tough minded trailblazers and innovators to tender hearted caregivers and community builders, women continue to shape our world with their courage, compassion, and determination.

Yet the truth is, many women have a tendency to over-commit. We overextend for various reasons; perhaps you get caught up in the moment and agree to something before you check your schedule, maybe you find it difficult to say no, or perhaps you suck at delegating and asking for help.

Whatever your reason, overextending leaves you feeling frustrated, frazzled, and always trying to beat the clock. Overextending can also potentially damage your reputation if you’re not able to fulfill the commitments you make. And overextending is not a healthy formula for blazing trails and building connections.

This blog is chance to stop, press pause, embrace the daisies, rethink your schedule and improve you. Time is fleeting, life is never a guarantee, everything can change in the blink of an eye. Your life is NOW!

And be warned, research suggests between the ages of 20 and 60 (yes the prime of our lives) we spend the majority of our time with… co-workers! Not family or friends, the bulk of our time is spent with colleagues.

And you know the saying, you become the average of the 5 people you spend the majority of your time with. So who have you become?

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we invite you to pause, reset and recharge.

Here are five ways to do just that:

1. Professionally:

Take a step back from work to assess your leadership brand. Reflect on how you’ve been leading in 2024 thus far.

Have you been leading with grit, grace & gravitas? Grit, is the die-hard determination to lean into hard things. Grace, is a nonjudgmental, benevolent kindness extended to others. Gravitas is dignified presence, the ability to command the attention of others without force and arrogance.

What is one skill you want to develop and one behavior you want to eliminate. Hold yourself accountable and take action.

If you’re unsure where to start, consider borrowing from our list of 15 leadership skills to grow grit, grace and gravitas.

2. Personally:

Do find yourself rushing from one activity to another without time to unplug or decompress?

Even if it’s only 15 minutes, create space to mentally and physically recharge your energy levels and reframe your mindset. By doing so, you’ll show up fully present and at your best.

Whether it is deep breathing, a walk outside, listening to your favorite tunes, a cold plunge, or a warm bath, when you are intentional about unplugging and decompressing you’ll handle emotions more effectively and avoid burnout.

Stop rushing through life, block time to read a book for fun, get organized, tackle a home project, or reconnect with loved ones through gatherings, concerts or events. 

By unplugging and decompressing, you’ll experience more joy and feel more refreshed.

3. Physically:

Chocolate is only a temporary fix. And temporary pleasures lead to permanent reminders.

Get moving and prioritize your physical health. A beautiful soul needs a sturdy vessel.

You don’t have to like running, yoga, or cross fit. Find something you do like and make it a daily habit. Walk, hike, ride a bike. Getting outside and being active will help you feel recharged and revitalized.

Remember, it is a lot easier to stay in shape than it is to get in shape.  

Okay, so it’s fine to have a private stash of chocolate, but less is more.

4. Financially:

Your mental and physical wellbeing is inherently linked to your financial wellbeing. Research proves, high levels of financial stress can lead to anxiety, headaches/migraines, compromised immune systems, digestive issues, high blood pressure, muscle tension, heart arrhythmia, depression and feelings of being overwhelmed.

And polls indicate, 65% of working Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and only 30% of people have an emergency savings.

Take control of your finances. Tally your debit, review your budget and look for ways to cut expenses and chip away at what’s holding you back.

Seek the advice of a respected friend or a trained financial advisor. Create and follow a plan to manage your money so you can reduce stress and uncertainty.

Check out resources like our Rising Out of Hard Times Survival Guide for tips on navigating financial challenges.

5. Spiritually:

The fact is, a leaky cup can’t fill another. When you’re empty you cannot pour into yourself or others.

Are you taking time to nourish your spirit and grow resilience especially when life is hard.

Train yourself to let go of the “forever myth.” Life is riddled with hardship. Remind yourself, you have suffered and risen strong despite hardships in your past.

And keep in mind, your story isn’t really yours. You have been grafted into an Epic story. You are a compilation of others’ stories. Strive to enrich the story.

But how? We believe in a humble God. A God who loves unconditionally and abundantly and a God who wants to be invited to assist you in your story.

Spend time growing your faith and grounding yourself in something far bigger than you. A deep faith is a spiritual way of lifting up, letting go and inviting God in to fill your cup so you can enrich the story.

BONUS ways to recharge

Try Something New:

Darius Rucker’s song entitled, “When Was The Last time,” offers great insight. “When was the last time you did something for the first time. Let yourself go, follow that feeling. Maybe something new is what you’re needing.  Like a real live, let your hair down feeling.” Life is short, time is precious, and professionalism is highly over rated. Use this bonus thought to inspire you, do something new for the first time. When we play hard and engage in adventures our spirits come to life.

Set boundaries:

Remember, taking care of your own well-being is essential for being able to show up fully present, care for others, blaze trails and deeply connect. Set boundaries, say “YES” to who and what truly matters and say “NO” to avoid over extending. 

TAKE AWAY

37 Leadership SHE-isms

to take with you on your leadership growth journey.

We all need reminders, mantras, -isms to live by. Take 37 of our top 101 tips for powerful women and share with the powerful women that surround you.

On this International Women’s Day, prioritize yourself and take steps to recharge and rejuvenate. By investing in your well-being, you’ll be better equipped to tackle challenges, rise strong and enrich your story.