99: How One Curious Habit Builds Resilience in Ops Leaders

Find the full transcript at yourfuturerealized.com/99. 

Last week, I was chatting with a creative powerhouse of an ops leader who's been juggling a global team around the clock. She felt overwhelmed, so we came up with a simple challenge: try going to bed the same time her son does for one week.

It sounded like a simple thing, but she was surprised by the difference. She woke up more rested, was eating better, got more done, and felt less stressed.

Sometimes the smallest tweaks can shift everything.

What’s one basic thing you’ve been putting off or brushing aside that’s quietly begging for your attention?

In this episode, we’ll dig into how tiny, everyday changes can seriously reset your energy and focus. I’ll also share one simple thing you can try this week to start shaking things up. 

Transcript

Last week, I was chatting with a creative powerhouse of an ops leader who's been juggling a global team around the clock. She felt overwhelmed, so we came up with a simple challenge: try going to bed the same time her son does for one week.

It sounded like a simple thing, but she was surprised by the difference. She woke up more rested, was eating better, got more done, and felt less stressed.

Sometimes the smallest tweaks can shift everything.

What’s one basic thing you’ve been putting off or brushing aside that’s quietly begging for your attention?

In this episode, we’ll dig into how tiny, everyday changes can seriously reset your energy and focus. I’ll also share one simple thing you can try this week to start shaking things up. Find the full transcript at yourfuturerealized.com/99. 

Hey Ops Execs,

The Overwhelm Ops Execs Face Every Day

Right now, you’ve got too much on your plate. Deadlines, projects, emails multiplying faster than coffee refills, teams looking to you for answers you probably don’t have. No wonder burnout is trending high in ops circles. 

No one really tells you this: all that pushing can cover up what's draining you until burnout hits hard.

I see you. You handle more in a day than most people do in a week, and you make it look easy. You notice details no one else sees, and you care deeply about your team and your results.

But here’s the problem: everyone expects you to keep things running. But when do you get a break? The more you do, the harder it is to look after yourself.

Run Your Personal Energy Audit in Three Steps

Let’s switch things up and try something called an Energy Audit. It's simple. Just notice what’s happening, no need to be perfect.

1. Track Your Energy. For just one day, notice what tasks lift you up, even a little. What drains you dry? Write it down. 
2. Delegate or Minimize One Drain. Then pick one—just one— energy drain, especially if it’s outside your core strengths or values. Can someone else take it? Can you do it less, or at a different time? Can you automate or batch it? Sometimes that means letting go of a ‘hero complex,’ or unsubscribing from a few newsletters, or—brace yourself—actually saying no to a meeting that’s not essential.
3. Schedule Time for Recharging Work... and Self-Care. Block it off. Treat it as sacred. Whether that’s a ten-minute yoga stretch before logging on, a meal service that makes your life easier, or a daily morning walk with your dog and your favorite playlist. These are not luxuries, they’re your foundation.

Small Daily Habits That Make a Big Difference

I’ve seen clients slip all kinds of small habits into their routines that make a real difference. Little things like playing rain sounds through headphones, quick two-minute micro-dances between meetings, doing ten squats every hour, swapping coffee for a smoothie, setting a no-meeting zone daily at noon, or leaving the phone in another room during routine work time.

Whatever it is, by guarding this time, you’re not only recharging. You’re showing your team what healthy boundaries look like so they can be more resilient too.

Real talk here: Self-care doesn’t fix broken systems. It can give you the presence, patience, and creativity you need to navigate these things. That’s the long game you need to play.

Funny thing, ops execs are pros at solving everyone else’s headaches. How often do you tweak and fix your own routines? 

Your Homework: A Simple Experiment for Lasting Energy

Here’s your homework (no stress, just a small experiment): Name one thing you can do this week to feel better. Take a tiny step with it, see how it feels, and remember that doing something, even imperfectly, helps. The objective is to simply feel a bit better than before. 

The key is turning it into a habit, doing it regularly for at least a week or two. Instead of chasing some ideal, lean in with some curiosity. See where it takes you.

You probably spend more time taking care of your car or pet than you do taking care of yourself. If you start taking your own side and treat your well-being like the key asset it is, you’ll be surprised at the ripple effect. 

If this resonates, check out episode 65 where I break down five signs of burnout and how to avoid them. Even the toughest leaders need a “Fortress of Solitude” to recharge. Listen in for practical ways to set boundaries and care for yourself at YourFutureRealized.com/65.

You can’t stop the chaos, but you can change the game.