Recharge resilience: Small habits for big impact in leadership

In today's fast-paced world, sustaining resilience in work can feel like a tall order— especially for social impact leaders in both corporate and nonprofit sectors for whom this work it their passion. You are juggling high-stakes decisions, stakeholder expectations, and mission-driven goals on top of your own internal drive and commitment. 

I know this firsthand. 

And for nearly a decade, I’ve relied on a few simple but powerful habits that keep me grounded no matter how chaotic things get.

Why habits matter: The foundations of leadership wellbeing

1. The science of small actions

Dr. BJ Fogg, a behavior scientist at Stanford University and author of Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything, explains it like this:

“Big changes require high motivation, which fluctuates. Small changes, however, can become automatic with minimal effort, creating a foundation for long-term success.”

What might seem insignificant on its own—a few quiet minutes of reflection or a daily note of gratitude—actually shapes how we lead, how we show up for others, and how we sustain our own energy. These are key habits of leadership—rituals that, over time, define our culture and our impact.

2. Daily habits = Daily recharges

Think of it like this: you wouldn’t run a marathon without consistent training. Similarly, resilience in work is the result of daily recharges.

When I skip my 3-minute morning ritual, I notice the difference— I’m more reactive, more anxious, less in flow. When I take just one minute to start a team meeting by breathing, I’m more present and grounded for the rest of the call.

Three daily practices to bolster resilience

In 2016, I spent a year solo backpacking across Southeast Asia. At some point that year, I came across a suggestion for a morning ritual that immediately stuck. Since then, I’ve anchored my mornings with three core practices: daily gratitude, forgiveness, and intention-setting. (And trust me, this is an essential practice of self-care for leaders). They’ve transformed countless days for me as a leader, partner, and community member.

1. Practice daily gratitude

Why it works: Gratitude rewires the brain. Taking a moment to acknowledge even small things I’m thankful for shifts my focus from stress to abundance.

How I do it, and how you can too: Each morning, I think of three things I’m grateful for. It’s not elaborate— just whatever pops into my mind. Some people write it down, which they say is even more effective, but I prefer to keep it simple. Consistency matters more than format.

Leadership impact: For social impact leaders, this helps set the tone for a culture of recognition and empathy. And it strengthens our capacity for wellbeing at work, because we are engaging from a place of gratitude. 

2. Practice forgiveness

Why it works: Forgiveness clears mental and emotional clutter. Holding onto frustration is draining—it keeps us stuck and distracted. Letting go creates space for clarity and creativity.

How I do it, and how you can too: After my gratitudes, I ask myself what I want —or need— to forgive. (I have found that because I hold myself to such high standards, the person I most often need to forgive is myself.) Usually, this forgiveness brings with it a deep, involuntary sigh. If you lead in high-stakes, mission-driven work, this release can be incredibly liberating.

Leadership impact: Forgiveness enhances trust and emotional intelligence. It helps me show up with compassion instead of defensiveness, and without emotional baggage in every decision or conversation. It’s a form of self-care for leaders.

3. Set a daily intention

Why it works: Intentions give structure to the day. When I start with a clear focus, I lead with more clarity and less distraction.

What it looks like: Again, it’s intuitive, not strategic. Whatever comes up. Maybe it’s “Be fully present in calls” or “Listen more than I speak.” It gives me a touchpoint for the day.

Leadership impact: This small act keeps me focused, grounded, and aligned. The ripple effects are real— for me and for those I lead. 

Real talk from the Resilience Institute Podcast

Recently, on the Resilience Institute Podcast with Brad Hook, I shared how I anchor my mornings with these three habits. And how they’ve helped me navigate years of high-intensity work. They are my most core habits of leadership.

We talked about what it really means to build resilience in work, not just for ourselves, but for our teams and our missions.

If you’re a social impact leader looking for practical ways to protect your energy and stay centered, I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Beyond the core three: Expanding your resilience toolbox

These three practices are my non-negotiables—but they’re not the only ones I rely on. Here are a few more tools I’ve added to my routine over the years to support wellbeing at work:

  • Micro-breaks throughout the day
    I recently installed a Chrome extension that tracked how I spent time on my computer. An unexpected bonus? It reminded me to take hourly breaks—stretch, hydrate, look away from the screen. At first, it felt disruptive, but at the end of each day, I felt noticeably less depleted. Sometimes you don’t know a habit gives you greater wellbeing at work until you test it.

  • Digital detox evenings
    Without kids and working remotely, it’s easy to work late—especially when the inbox is finally quiet. But giving myself two hours of cooking, stretching, and reading before bed makes me feel 100x more like my full self.

  • External support
    I’ve had a coach or peer circle for years. These check-ins help me reflect, celebrate wins, crowdsource ideas, and simply not feel alone in the journey. Being in community is an overlooked piece of self-care for leaders. (If you can’t get external support or be in community right now, here are some tips on how to figure out your next right step on your own.)

  • Moving my body
    I don’t refer to it as exercise—I call it “moving my body”. Because that’s exactly what my body tends to ask me for. A walk, stretching, yoga, zumba—whatever!

  • Weekly reflection & learning
    At the bottom of my weekly planning sheet, I always create two boxes: “Celebrations” and “Learnings.” I let myself fully feel the wins, and sometimes even speak them out loud to my partner, which allows them to land even deeper. I also reflect on what didn’t go well and what I learned from each. Because pausing to grow, not just grind, is another powerful form of self-care for leaders.

Spotlight: Leadership impact—and ROI

These aren’t just personal rituals. They’re leadership strategies with real organizational outcomes:

  • Morale & culture: Gratitude and forgiveness build psychological safety and reduce burnout.

  • Decision quality: Daily intention-setting sharpens focus and alignment.

  • Resilience ROI: A 2024 article in Health Psychology Review found that leadership development programs focused on resilience were linked to higher confidence, engagement, and motivation. This translated into better organizational performance, less absenteeism, and improved retention.

Bottom line: Leaders who invest in themselves show up with more stamina, purpose, and impact— especially in mission-driven environments. Our wellbeing at work is critical for those of us driving social impact because, as they say on the plane, put your oxygen mask on first before you help others put theirs on. 

Your turn: What’s your go-to resilience habit?

I’m sharing these practices in the hope that they’ll spark something for you. Whether you’re an NGO director or a corporate changemaker, small consistent actions matter. These micro-moments ripple across our teams, organizations, and the causes we care about.

Let’s grow a community of leaders who are thriving—not just surviving.

My invitation to you

Resilience in work isn’t about heroic survival. It’s about everyday strength.

✅ Start with one habit —gratitude, forgiveness, or intention-setting— and see what shifts.
✅ Boost your wellbeing at work and effectiveness by anchoring your day with purpose.
✅ Practice and share the habits of leadership you rely on— your rituals matter.
Listen to the podcast episode for deeper insights and stories.
✅ Share this blog with another social impact leader, because strong leaders build stronger missions.

Remember, this gets to be easy



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