What Tennessee Humidity Taught Me about Leadership

What the Tennessee Humidity Taught Me About Leadership

By Susan Lyn Sykes

Leadership lessons don't always happen in a boardroom. Sometimes they happen before sunrise on a quiet neighborhood street.

Like many mornings recently, I woke up around four o'clock. My husband had to leave for work earlier than usual, and after staying up until nearly eleven studying for my 2027 AHIP certification, I knew I hadn't gotten enough sleep.

Every excuse was waiting for me.

"You need more rest."

"You can exercise tomorrow."

"You've earned a break."

Then I remembered something I've learned over the years—as a military police officer during the Gulf War, as a special education teacher for more than three decades, and now as someone educating people about Medicare:

Our first decision of the day often shapes every decision that follows.

So I put on my shoes.

The Science Behind the Struggle

Living in Tennessee means becoming familiar with heat and humidity. Recently, I began reading about Europe's record-breaking temperatures and learned more about something called wet-bulb temperature.

Ironically, during my military service, I reported wet-bulb readings in our daily newsletters because they helped determine whether soldiers could safely train outdoors. At the time, I simply recorded the number. I didn't truly understand the science behind it.

Today, I do.

Our bodies cool themselves through evaporation. When humidity is extremely high, sweat cannot evaporate efficiently, making it much harder for the body to cool down. Sometimes, 87 degrees with very high humidity can feel more physically demanding than a much hotter day with dry air.

Yesterday, I experienced exactly that.

After my morning walk and run, I was completely drenched. I couldn't get comfortable afterward. I even felt cold despite having overheated. Recovery took much longer than I expected.

One Simple Adjustment

This morning, however, I made one simple adjustment.

Instead of heading straight inside after exercising, I completed my Hinge Health routine. These guided exercises focus on breathing, mobility, and strengthening my pelvic floor. Although I had been trying to complete them every afternoon, I realized they naturally fit better immediately after my workout.

The results surprised me.

My breathing slowed more quickly. My body relaxed. My recovery was smoother.

More importantly, my attitude improved.

The weather hadn't changed.

My circumstances hadn't changed.

I had.

Leadership Starts with Self-Leadership

That experience reminded me of something I witnessed repeatedly during my teaching career. Students often made their greatest progress not because we completely changed the lesson, but because we adjusted the approach.

The same principle applies to adults. We don't always need a complete life overhaul. Sometimes, we simply need to change the order of our habits or shift our perspective.

As women, many of us spend our lives caring for everyone else first. We postpone our own health, our own rest, and our own growth until everything else is finished.

But leadership starts with self-leadership.

When we take care of our bodies, protect our mindset, and commit to small daily disciplines, we show up better for our families, our careers, and our communities.

Today's Lesson

Today's lesson wasn't really about Tennessee humidity.

It was about resilience.

It was about discovering that one small decision can completely change the direction of your day.

And perhaps most importantly, it was a reminder that growth doesn't usually arrive through dramatic moments.

It arrives quietly—in the decision to get out of bed, lace up your shoes, breathe deeply, and keep moving forward, one step at a time.