There is a rule of thumb for comedians: “Get off the stage while they are still laughing”. For politicians, maybe it should be “Get off the stage while you are still laughing”!

After twelve years in local government, including two terms as mayor, I retired while I still loved what I did. I learned plenty over my tenure, not only about public leadership but also about personal leadership. How one leads their life in the small moments is how one will lead them in the big ones. How you are in your private life is how you show up in your public life. The two are inseparably intertwined.

The following pitfalls may appear solely personal. However, these can have a profound effect on your leadership skills and integrity as an elected official.

1. Lack of Sleep: Life can be full of late meetings and mornings that came too soon. During the night, my mind would rehash events, speeches, and conversations, wondering if there was something left unsaid or articulated poorly. It left me exhausted and bleary-eyed. Rest is critical. Sleep protects the brain and helps processes information. It allows not only your body but your mind to recover. A good night sleep can lead to solutions for problems that have been eluding you.
    
2. Lack of Exercise: A lack of sleep and a busy travel schedule make it easy to talk oneself out of exercise. Elected officials do plenty of sitting. I was either in a meeting, preparing for a meeting, driving to a meeting or recovering from a meeting. Physical exercise is like fertilizer for your brain and in a world where your brain is the most important piece of equipment you have, size really does matter. Exercise helps with focus and cognition. As an elected official, you need all the smarts you can get! Since it is easier to stay in shape than it is to get into shape, make some time to be physically active.
    
3. Poor Eating: Part of the ceremonial role of an elected official involves community events, conferences, and social gatherings. Where there are people, there is food; not leafy greens, healthy fats, and lean protein. We are talking coffee, saucy meats, gooey white buns, and endless sweets. Being a former wellness consultant, I know the importance nutrition has on every aspect of your life, including cognitive ability. What about alcohol? It is tempting to numb the anxiety of a long meeting or to socialize with your peers after council or at conferences. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, however, little good comes from drinking too much. It is toxic to brain function and can disturb the little sleep you’re already getting.
    
4. Connections and Disconnections: The longer I was in politics, the more my relationships centered on those who were connected to politics. My conversations revolved around political issues. As mayor of a small town, I could not go anywhere without someone stopping to talk with, to or at me. Political life will take over every part of your life if you let it. It is critical not to shun your pre-election relationships. Those are the people that loved you before your title and will love you after.
    
5. Egocentricity: Few politicians want to venture into a conversation about ego in politics. Your life is no longer your own. There is a temptation to become vulnerable to what people say about you. In my experience, many people loved and admired me for who I was not, and many people also disliked me for who I was not. That being said, no one could have prepared me for the “celebrity” status of becoming the mayor. Although the public loves to hate politicians, they nonetheless elect leaders and put them upon a pedestal. They treat them as if they really are important and special. As a result, elected officials begin to think they are important and special. The danger in political life is that it can lead to a real misuse of power. Hold the title loosely because it is yours but only for a point in time.
    

I enjoyed my career in politics immensely, but it is necessary to also reveal the darker side. To maintain the former, you must effectively deal with the latter. If you truly want to be a leader, then always, always, always lead your own life first.