Leadership Stress Is Different - How to Recharge Effectively

There are unspoken expectations that sky rocket your leadership stress: staying calm under pressure, being the rock for your team, and constantly delivering results. But juggling deadlines, managing teams, meeting targets, and navigating unexpected challenges can leave you feeling stretched so thin that there’s no space left for yourself.

My work-related stress hit an all-time high when I was promoted to Inspector. Not only was I battling immense sexism (a story for another day!), but I was trying to deliver results with resources that simply weren’t there.

I vividly remember one early shift where I paraded about 12 officers. After assigning static posts like guarding prisoners at hospitals, monitoring at-risk detainees, and securing crime scenes, I was left with no one to handle the ever-growing list of public calls. It was a dire situation.

When I raised the issue with my superiors, the solution was to scour the station for officers from other units or geographic areas to fill the gaps. But those officers had their own workloads. The long-term under-resourcing had created immense pressure, and it fell squarely on my shoulders to somehow fix it.

The Power of Stress

Even as I sit here in my tropical garden in Costa Rica, 5000 miles away and three years removed from that life, I can still feel the physical echoes of that stress: my jaw tightens, my heart races, my neck and shoulders stiffen, and a sick feeling rises in my stomach.

That was my reality for years. The truth? There was nothing I could have done to change the situation—it was entirely beyond my control. And yet, like so many leaders, I carried that weight as if it were my personal failing.

This is what makes leadership stress different: it’s isolating. When you’re the person everyone else turns to, who’s there to support you?

Signs Leadership Stress Is Taking Its Toll

Leadership stress often creeps in quietly, showing up in ways that are easy to dismiss or ignore:

• Feeling drained before your day even begins.

• Experiencing decision fatigue.

• Struggling to disconnect after work, with your mind replaying meetings or deadlines.

• Sacrificing your own needs for the demands of your role.

• Feeling guilt or self-doubt even when you try to prioritise yourself.

• Never taking a proper lunch break.

• Believing stress is just part of achieving success.

• Struggling to delegate effectively due to the need for control.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. According to a Deloitte report, "Women @ Work 2022: A Global Outlook", 53% of women leaders reported experiencing higher stress levels compared to the previous year, with nearly half feeling burned out; this high level of burnout is often cited as a major reason why women are leaving their jobs.

Why Self-Care Feels Harder as a Leader

For many leaders, the idea of stepping back feels impossible. Maybe you’ve told yourself:

• "If I don’t handle it, who will?"

• "Taking a break will make me look weak."

• "I just need to push through a little longer, and things will calm down."

• "I’m too busy to prioritise myself."

• "Everyone is relying on me—I can’t let them down."

Here’s the hard truth: stress won’t go away on its own. Left unchecked, it builds and slowly chips away at your energy, health, and passion for what you do.

The Solution: Prioritising YOU

If this resonates, it’s time to shift the narrative. Stress doesn’t have to define your leadership journey, and taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you’re letting anyone down. In fact, the opposite is true—when you’re recharged, you lead better.

That’s why I created The Leadership Recharge Plan: a simple, effective toolkit designed specifically for women in leadership who are ready to break free from burnout and find balance again.

What’s Inside the Leadership Recharge Plan?

This 3-step plan focuses on the key areas that will help you feel calmer and more in control:

• Mindful Awareness: Learn to recognise and manage your stress triggers with ease.

• Letting Go of Control: Discover how to delegate, set boundaries, and free up mental space.

• Sleep Hygiene: Finally get the deep, restorative rest your body craves.

With guided audio practices and actionable steps, this plan is your fast track to feeling calmer, more focused, and more in control - both at work and in life.

You Deserve Calm, Too

It’s time to stop putting yourself last and sacrificing your health for your job. Imagine starting each day feeling refreshed, clear-headed, and ready to lead with confidence.

If you’re ready to take that step, click here to learn more about my free Leadership Recharge Plan and start your journey to calm and balance today.

Because you can’t pour from an empty cup—and the better you feel, the better you lead.

Let’s make this your turning point.

Get The FREE Leadership Recharge Plan Here