For many of us, 2025 has proved intensely stressful — and we’re still only halfway through the year. In times like these, it may seem counterintuitive or even irresponsible to talk about seeking pleasure. Yet pleasure, presence, joy and connection can help you return to a mental and physical state that allows you to face and handle stressors. This is especially important for leaders, whether in the pleasure industry or other sectors. That’s why creating and nurturing an intentional wellness practice is now more important than ever.
In challenging times like these, our bodies and minds are equipped to take over to protect us. Depending on how your nervous system has been trained, it is common to respond to stress in one of two ways. Overwhelming stress can cause a shutdown, where you go through the motions of life and work on autopilot, or with “blinders” on, disconnecting and disassociating. Or you might notice your body’s threat responses kicking into high gear, with a strong urge to escape or to rage.
The wellness tools best suited to those in leadership positions are ones that not only boost endorphins and reduce stress but also offer clarity and peace of mind.
Of course, neither hiding nor running away solves the problem — or serves you when trying to lead an organization, grow a business or support your team.
On the other hand, research shows that experiencing pleasure, consistently and in different ways, keeps the “reward pathway” in your brain active and ready. This boosts crucial executive skills such as motivation, problem solving and focus. All of this means that pleasure can be a valuable tool in any resilient, thoughtful leader’s toolbox.
Practicing pleasure might not be the thing to which you’ve traditionally turned when the situation gets tough. Perhaps you mostly associate pleasure with your sexual life. That is common and understandable, but in this case, we are talking about other forms of pleasure as well. For example, a daily walk can help you clear your mind, process information and reduce stress. Even taking just one of your daily meetings while out walking can boost your mental and physical health. Reorienting toward pleasure doesn’t have to require a lot of time, attention or money. In fact, simple practices are often the best ones, because they don’t require you to rearrange your life or schedule.
Looking for small moments of joy, or “glimmers,” in your daily routine can help you shift out of survival mode. Glimmers are tiny moments of happiness or anything that makes you smile — the rays of literal and figurative sunshine that can bring you into a brief state of contentment and presence. Being intentional about noticing and appreciating these glimmers signals to your body that you are safe. When you feel safe, you’re better able to show up as a deliberate leader — or simply a responsible human.
In today’s climate, the risk of making quick, reactionary decisions rooted in fear or anxiety is high. While fear can drive short bursts of effort, and threat responses are fantastic in an emergency when immediate action is required, reactive decisions driven by fear ultimately hinder sustainable growth, lower team morale and create a toxic work environment. For leaders, it is especially important to mitigate fear and make decisions from a grounded place.
The wellness tools best suited to those in leadership positions are ones that not only boost endorphins and reduce stress but also offer clarity and peace of mind. A visualization technique is one approach that ticks all of the boxes. First, turn off devices for 10 minutes and give yourself the gift of a distraction-free space. Then get centered in whatever way that works for you. Once grounded, imagine a landscape that brings you peace and let your mind slowly fill in the details. In the distance, a mountain range appears where your future self sits looking out over the view. Feel what it is like to step into this version of you, who is on the other side of the difficult decisions, stressors and circumstances you are facing now. What guidance would this version of yourself have to share with you now? What insights can you tap into on this mountain top looking back at this moment?
Often, we have a deep well of knowledge within ourselves that is untapped and especially difficult to access in times of stress. Pleasure practices that get you in your body and out of your head can often help you to access this inner wisdom.
We know that this year, and those to come, will continue to present challenges and stressors. To show up as our best selves in our various spheres of influence, we must be able to draw upon whatever inner resources we can muster. When the need to strategize is so great, it is easy to let self-care and pleasure take a back seat — but when you have the tools to help process your stress, reset and experience harmony in your body, you are better equipped to make the best decisions, inspire those around you and weather the storm.
Sarah Tomchesson (she/her) has spent much of her career as a brand strategist shaping legendary pleasure brands, including in her current role as the marketing director for Magic Wand. She is a certified sexuality educator and intimacy coach and co-hosts a weekly podcast, “F*ck Yeah.” Tomchesson also serves as vice board chair of SIECUS, which advocates for sex education policy reform.
