A CFO’s Guide to Prioritising Mental & Physical Well-Being

The CFO has become a very high-pressure role that often puts you at a much greater risk of fatigue, burnout and in cases, depression. Often finance leaders can find themselves putting the health of a business or organisation, ahead of their own.

Prioritising your physical and mental fitness is important for experiencing a sense of well-being. It can positively impact your career because you can only bring your A-game to the office when you feel well and think sharply.

Here’s how to lead a healthier lifestyle and manage the stresses of your life as a CFO:

Put Yourself First

First, none of this advice would make a difference unless you put your well-being above anything else.

Any conscientious senior executive addicted to work would find it challenging to loosen up in a high-risk entrepreneurial environment — especially if your organisation experiences hypergrowth. You may think you should marry your company to prove you’re cut out for your role, even though you already paid your dues to reach this level.

Any misgivings you may have about taking time to satisfy your personal needs are valid. After all, you wouldn’t be where you are today without an outstanding work ethic.

However, recognise that your health is also why you’ve succeeded in your career. The weight of your responsibilities mounts as you climb the corporate ladder, so you should ensure your body can handle your role’s demands.

Clarify Your Work Goals

Understanding the deliverables your superiors want from you matters to reduce your anxiety. Clear expectations allow you to spend your resources efficiently and perform your duties with peace of mind.

Stand up for Yourself

When you have an excessive workload, surround yourself with competent staff to whom you can reliably delegate less essential tasks.

Be prepared to push back when needed to oppose ideas that would unnecessarily add more to your plate. Offer solid alternatives to achieve goals without draining yourself.

Moreover, the prospect of being accountable for matters you have little influence over affects your morale. Low self-esteem is one reason more than 50% of managers across various industries experience burnout.

Advocate for yourself to avoid developing feelings of helplessness. You need reasonable autonomy to make executive decisions. Speak with your CEO to discuss areas you feel you should have significant control over so you can perform your duties accordingly and confidently own outcomes.

Live Your Personal Life

Modern technology and 24/7 connectivity has made CFOs workhorses. Although it’s just the nature of the beast, you should acknowledge that being a compulsive worker is unsustainable.

Workaholism eventually takes a toll on your body. You’ll lose your edge because of poor health sooner or later, flushing years of hard work down the drain.

Aim for a healthy work-life balance — even more so if you have a family. Unplugging from work allows you to rest your mind and recharge your batteries. You’d be surprised how setting clear boundaries between your personal and professional lives can maintain your motivation and enjoyment in your role.

Value Self-Care

Doing things that nourish you physically, emotionally, psychologically, socially and spiritually is vital to gaining a sense of well-being.

Sleeping for seven to eight hours can lead to healthier outcomes than staying in bed shorter or longer. Eating wholesome meals should go without saying, so aim to make your plate as colourful as possible to consume diverse essential nutrients.

Squeeze exercise into your daily schedule. Aim for about two hours and 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily to break a healthy amount of sweat and offset your sedentary behaviour.

Furthermore, put a premium on personal grooming. While you may already do everything to look presentable in front of your peers, turn your morning ritual into a meditative experience.

Showering, washing your face, shaving and selecting your wardrobe are personal activities that can help you reconnect with yourself and be introspective.

Have a Support System

The CFO role can be a lonely occupation. Finding someone to confide in can be difficult. You can’t open up and be completely honest with many of your co-workers out of fear of divulging sensitive information about the company. Your loved ones may be willing to listen but not fully understand your struggles.

If you don’t have a network of trusted executive-level peers, converse with mental health professionals. Talk-based therapy allows you to air your grievances to a trained individual who will keep things confidential. A therapist or counsellor can help identify your troubles’ root causes, diagnose any mental health issues you may have and offer advice to overcome them.

Declining Physical and Mental Health Is Every CFO’s Liability

You can’t be the best CFO you can be when you’re chronically exhausted, burned out or depressed. As important as your position may be, you’re as dispensable as rank-and-file employees in a fickle business.

Put your well-being high on your agenda to deliver excellent results for stakeholders and protect your greatest asset — your health — at all costs.

About the Author –

Mia Barnes is a regular contributor to a number of publications and is passionate about healthy living, fitness, nutrition, and wellness. Mia is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the online publication, Body+Mind magazine.