14 CEOs Share Mantras for Unwinding and Self-Care

As a CEO and leader, my mantra is simple but sacred: “You can’t pour from an empty cup but when your cup overflows, you can change lives.”

It’s a daily reminder that self-care isn’t selfish. It’s strategic. Early in my career, I wore busyness like a badge of honor. I thought being constantly available and “on” was what leadership demanded. Over time, I learned that true leadership is less about constant motion and more about conscious energy management. When you lead teams, brands, and big visions, the quality of your energy determines the quality of everything you touch; from decisions to culture to creativity.

For me, staying grounded starts with non-negotiable rituals that reconnect me to myself. Movement is my meditation. Pilates, strength training, or long walks help me process thoughts and find clarity. I protect my mornings fiercely. That quiet space before the world wakes up is where I reconnect to purpose, gratitude, and intention. I believe in leading from overflow, not depletion.

One phrase that consistently brings me back to center is: “Discipline creates freedom.” It’s not about rigidity; it’s about respect — for my time, my body, my mind, and my vision and mission. Discipline in self-care allows me to show up with presence and power, not exhaustion and noise.

I’ve built my company culture around that same principle — wellness from the inside out. My team knows that self-care fuels excellence. We talk openly about boundaries, rest, and recovery, because a grounded team builds a grounded brand.

At the end of the day, leadership is an energy exchange. The more intentional we are about protecting our peace, the more magnetic, creative, and compassionate we become. My mantra reminds me daily that glow isn’t something you put on. It’s something you live.

As someone juggling both the creative and business sides of my companies, I’ve learned that self-care isn’t optional — it’s the foundation of everything else. The personal mantra I return to daily is: “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”

I first heard this from a meditation teacher years ago, and it stuck. When my days feel overwhelming — emails, deadlines, competing demands — it reminds me that racing only creates mistakes, tension, and rework. If I slow down and bring mindful attention to each step, things flow with less friction, and ironically, I get more done with less strain.

This mantra grounds me in two ways: it gives me permission to pause when my instinct is to push harder, and it reframes self-care (stretching, walking, unplugging for an hour) not as lost time, but as a strategic reset. That shift has helped me sustain both my focus as a writer and my clarity as a business leader.

I’ve learned firsthand that the drive to grow and lead can easily overshadow self-care, so having a guiding mantra helps me stay grounded.

Here’s mine:

“Reset is not weakness; it’s preparation.”

This phrase reminds me that taking moments to pause, recharge, and reflect isn’t indulgent but rather essential groundwork for sustainable leadership.

When I’m burnt out or overly reactive, I ask, “What reset do I need right now?” It might be a 20-minute walk or shutting off notifications for an hour.

Over time, this affirmation helps me prioritize small acts of self-care (even amid chaos) so I can show up more present, decisive, and clear-headed for my team.

My personal mantra is, “I can achieve more with ease.” For a long time, I equated success with intensity — long hours, constant problem-solving, and pushing through every obstacle. But over time, I learned that growth doesn’t always have to come from pressure. When I lead from clarity and calm rather than urgency, both I and my team perform better.

This mantra reminds me that discipline and ease can coexist. It helps me slow down, delegate with trust, and focus on what truly moves the business forward instead of trying to do everything myself. As a CEO, it’s easy to fall into the trap of over-responsibility — but I’ve found that when I create space to rest and reset, my decisions become sharper and results follow more naturally.

It’s a simple phrase, but it keeps me grounded in a leadership style built on balance rather than burnout.

“I honor this moment as a gift to restore my mind, body, and spirit.”

Part of remaining grounded is maintaining alignment between mind, body, and spirit. With all the distractions life has to offer today, it’s easy to get sidetracked and thrown out of alignment. This short and simple mantra reminds you to intentionally focus on being present and allowing space for stillness. Allowing yourself to surrender to the present moment assists mind, body, and spirit in realigning, which is essential for remaining grounded. Using this mantra frequently encourages taking a step away from stress, grounding in the moment, and prioritizing mental wellbeing.

“Focus on progress, not perfection.” This simple phrase serves as a reminder to prioritize well-being and maintain balance, even amidst the fast-paced demands of leading a global learning organization. It encourages taking small, intentional steps toward self-care — whether it’s setting aside time for reflection, exercise, or disconnecting from work to recharge. Embracing this mindset not only helps sustain personal energy but also fosters a clearer perspective and better decision-making.

Running a business and taking care of myself go hand in hand when it comes to long-term success.

“Rest to rise” is my mantra because I’ve learned that without taking time to recharge, I’m not operating at my best. Taking that time to step back allows me to come back stronger, more focused, and ready to lead with clarity.

When I remind myself, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” I remember that taking time for self-care is a necessity, not an option. If I don’t take care of myself, I lose focus, and that affects both the team and the business.

Sustainable beats optimal. I used to push for perfect performance constantly — working late, being available 24/7, optimizing every decision. That approach led to burnout that hurt both my health and my business judgment.

This phrase reminds me that consistently good performance over years beats brief periods of exceptional output followed by exhaustion and poor decisions. When I’m tempted to work through the weekend to polish a strategy document, I ask whether the incremental improvement justifies the recovery time I’ll need afterward.

The practical impact shows in how I structure my schedule now. I block non-negotiable time for exercise and family, treating those commitments with the same respect as client meetings. When I maintain sustainable energy levels, my strategic thinking stays sharp and I make better long-term decisions. The business grew more consistently when I stopped operating in unsustainable sprint cycles.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, in my own head, or stuck in a productivity loop, I ask myself, “Does work require me to pull the fire alarm right now and see this task through?” If not, I delegate or do it tomorrow so I can decompress and come back to it with clarity.

My personal mantra is, “Self-care is never selfish.” It is a simple reminder that it is OK to prioritize myself and take the time to care for myself. As a CEO and Founder, it is easy to equate productivity with constant motion, but this phrase helps me pause, reflect, and recalibrate. It reminds me that rest, reflection, and balance are prerequisites for clarity and sound judgment. When I engage in self-care activities, like meditation, sleep, and exercise, I feel reinvigorated. I find that I can clear my mind, make better decisions, lead with more empathy, and bring a calmer energy to my team.

This mindset has also shaped how I structure my days. For example, I set boundaries around work hours, schedule time for physical movement, and create quiet moments for reflection. The mantra helps me reframe self-care as part of my leadership strategy. Over time, I have learned to fill my cup. The phrase reminds me to stay rooted in the belief that nurturing my well-being is essential.