When Everything Gets More Expensive, Don’t Forget Yourself!

April always shows up with a full inbox. New tax year. Rising wages. Unexpected tariffs. And this year, something else turned up.. a deeper, more personal pressure – the kind that doesn’t always make it onto spreadsheets.

But I was on a call a few weeks ago with a group of business leaders, and what I heard made something very clear, as the weight of financial pressure is becoming personal.

Yes, hiring was mentioned (that’s almost a given now), but what came up more than usual was something subtler and far more worrying -recruitment freezes, employee retention struggles, and a creeping fear around what rising employment costs will mean next.

Because as of yesterday, 6th April 2025, changes to employer National Insurance contributions kicked in. Add that to already rising wages through National Minimum Wage adjustments, and you’ve got a cocktail that’s hard to swallow, even for the most seasoned founders.

So I jumped onto my laptop this morning to say this:

When everything gets more expensive, don’t forget yourself!

Because the more financial pressure builds, the easier it is to forget that you’re also a cost, but one worth investing in.

Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels

The Quiet Crisis in Leadership Right Now

Let’s get real for a moment. Leadership has never been “easy” but right now it’s verging on brutal!

Here’s what April 2025 has just dropped on many leaders all at once:

• Higher payroll costs through the National Minimum and Living Wage increase

• Rising employer NI contributions starting from 6th April

• Unpredictable tariffs as trade terms shift again post-Brexit and global supply chains adjust

• Pressure to retain top staff without the budget flexibility to reward or progress them

• Hiring freezes that leave stretched teams even more exhausted

You’re trying to do more, with less and do it without cracking.

And that’s where many leaders falter… not because they lack skill or passion, but because they forget that pressure needs somewhere to go. Often, it goes inward.

The Hidden Cost of Cutting Yourself First

When finances are tight, cutting back becomes instinctive.
But here’s the contradiction, and I say this with love, cutting back on your own needs is a false economy.

• Scrapping your coach or mentor? You’re losing clarity.

• Cancelling planned time off? You’re eroding resilience.

• Skipping self-care because “there’s too much on?” You’re setting yourself up to burn out.

This isn’t indulgence vs. austerity. This is strategy vs. sabotage!

You are still the most powerful variable in your business and that means protecting your energy isn’t selfish – it’s essential.

What I Heard from Other Leaders Tells a Bigger Story

Back to that call I mentioned.

These weren’t new leaders. These were seasoned directors and founders from across sectors. And I noticed a shift in tone – more subdued, more anxious, more… tired.

It wasn’t about growth forecasts or five-year plans. It was about:

• Holding on to talent with no room to incentivise

• Navigating cost increases they didn’t sign up for

• Making peace with the fact that this might be the year they don’t grow – and having to justify that to investors, staff, even themselves

One voice really stuck with me. They said:

“I can’t remember the last time I made a decision that didn’t feel like damage control”

And that’s what April can do – it can push leaders into a place where survival replaces vision.

This Is Where You Decide What Kind of Leader You Want to Be

Now here’s the pivot, and you know I’m always going to make one.

Yes, this is hard. Yes, this is expensive. Yes, this is uncertain.

But also, this is the moment you define how you lead when conditions are tough.

Instead of defaulting to:

• Reactive thinking

• Scarcity-based cuts

• Silent struggle

You could choose:

• Honest leadership

• Sustainable decisions

• Personal accountability for your own wellbeing

Protect Your Energy Like You Protect Profit!

You already have a budget for things that matter. You plan, you forecast, you optimise.

What if your capacity as a leader was treated with that same seriousness?

Here’s what that looks like:

What Would Change if You Treated Yourself as Essential Infrastructure?

Would you…

• Schedule recovery time instead of pushing through exhaustion?

• Budget for your brain space the same way you do for office rent?

• Speak to someone before it all feels too much?

You wouldn’t let a team member burn out silently. So why is it okay for you?

This Isn’t a “You Problem” – It’s a Pattern

Too many leaders are running on fumes because financial pressure has made them believe there’s no alternative.

But the truth is that there’s always a cost. You either:

• Pay now – by investing in your own sustainability

• Or pay later – through burnout, turnover, and reactive decision-making

You get to choose which cost makes the most sense.

FAQs

• Why is financial pressure so high right now for leaders?
  April brings compounded costs: wage increases, employer NI hikes, and wider cost-of-living inflation. It’s a financial pinch from all sides.
• What can I do if I can’t afford to invest in myself right now?
  Start small. Time is as valuable as money. Carve out space, find free or low-cost support networks, and don’t wait until crisis hits.
• How do I explain this need to my board/team/investors?
  Position your leadership wellbeing as a risk mitigation strategy. A healthy leader makes better, more sustainable decisions.
• Is it wrong to pause growth ambitions in this climate?
  Not at all. Growth is not the only indicator of success. Stability and resilience are wins in themselves.
• What’s one thing I can do this week to help myself?
  Speak to someone. Don’t sit in silence. Whether it’s a peer, a coach, or a friend, saying it out loud is a gamechanger.
• How can I help my team when I’m struggling too?
  Lead with honesty. Show that care is scalable – it doesn’t require perfection, just presence.

My Final Thoughts

You’re navigating rising costs, shifting expectations, and increasingly complex team dynamics. And you’re doing it in a month designed to squeeze.

But here’s what I know to be true:

How you treat yourself sets the tone for how others will treat you, and how you’ll weather this season!

Don’t forget yourself. Don’t downplay the pressure. Don’t pretend it’s all fine.

Instead, lead from the inside out. With strategy, with compassion, and with the kind of sustainability that makes long-term success possible.