According to the mental health charity, Mind, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year. Not only this, but work-related stress can aggravate an existing mental health problem, or spiral into one if not treated. That is why taking care of yourself is essential!
With the year that we have all had- the uncertainty, the lack of routine, the anxiety, fear, and stress- it is extremely important that we look after ourselves whilst we are at work.
What is Self-care, and Why is it Relevant in the Workspace?
To an individual, self-care becomes a construct that makes it easy to have a healthy mental, physical and emotional well-being. This is an essential aspect in the digital era when everything tends to pollute our senses.
From sensory overload that leads to anxiety in non-diagnosed individuals to feeling overwhelmed – there are several detrimental effects of not taking care of oneself. It is particularly important when considering the concentration and focus that corporate individuals must devote to their work.
Both of these become scarce when they lack the bandwidth to take on any of the responsibilities that are thrown their way.
This isn’t a sign of their incompetency – but a blaring alarm they aren’t taking care of themselves. When you indulge in self-care, you are taking care of yourself holistically. It is one of the most crucial parts of your well-being is making efforts to handle the stresses.
It is a well-balanced self-care act that makes sure you are preventing burnout, mental exhaustion and the development of chronic diseases. Avoiding signs that you need a break from taking care of yourself is the biggest act of disrespect from someone who has recently learnt its importance.
Even though it can differ depending on the person you are and your preference to release your stress, here are some examples of what self-care looks like:
- Taking a day off to recharge your social batteries
- Having a spa day
- Having strict boundaries, for example, saying no when you have a calendar full of prioritized tasks
- Cooking/eating your favourite food without thinking too much about it
- Treating yourself to your favourite coffee/drink/snack
This is a non-exhaustive list, and it varies depending on the person, so do what lets you practice self-care, even in the workplace. Especially in the workplace – that is where you spend the majority of the day.
Importance of Taking Care of Yourself in the Workplace
Now that you know what taking care of yourself is, let me tell you why you need to practice self-care in the workplace. Let’s have a look:
- Your self-care routine ensures you are resilient in the face of adversities – be it your manager’s incessant list of work, to your co-worker’s abrupt requests.
- You show people how to treat you – your boundaries will show others to have respect for it and maybe even have boundaries of their own!
- Reduces anxiety that can develop due to work stress – yes, that’s a thing! Nearly 30-90% of employees face occupational stress.
- Improves your quality of life by helping you de-stress frequently. This takes care of the overload you may feel from the work week.
- Improves your productivity by helping you reset yourself back to a healthy point where you can focus completely
- Clinically reduces your risk of cardiovascular issues – from stroke and blood pressure to heart disease.
Top 5 Ways to Make Taking Care of Yourself Easy at Work!
Here are 5 interesting ways you can look after yourself during the working day.
1. Make The Most Of Your Breaks
A whopping 82% of employees admit to not always taking their breaks at work, instead opting for convenience foods and a working lunch. Whilst the majority of us might be working from home, it is super important to make the most of our breaks.
Screen breaks are critical to our eye health after staring at a screen for hours, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes while you make a coffee. Make the most of your breaks by getting some fresh air and doing a little walk for some time.
2. Be Proactive
Be proactive in your methods for looking after yourself. When planning your day, notice if anything might stress you out more than usual or trigger a response.
You don’t have to avoid doing it by any means, but establishing the trigger event means you can plan self-care into your schedule right after that task or meeting.
3. Employee Benefits
See if your workplace offers any employee benefits like a well-being program. These apps can be downloaded onto your smartphone and accessed 24/7. Well-being programs can help you to receive targeted support for any mental health concerns, whether they are work-related or at home.
4. Speak to Your Boss
If work is really stressing you out and getting you down, then talk to your employer. This can be scary, especially as speaking to someone about your mental health can be hard enough as it is, never mind that person being your boss!
However, open and frank discussions such as these can allow you to work through any kind of adjustments that could make your work life easier. This could mean flexible working hours or just offering a quiet area in the office to sit and breathe during times of stress.
5. Strike a Good Work-Life Balance
Most importantly, you need to strike a good work-life balance. We have all heard the phrase ‘work hard, play hard’, but what if this was work enough, play enough!
Don’t sacrifice your home life by working too hard and burning yourself out, and conversely, don’t party too hard with your kids that you can’t focus at work!
Wrapping It Up!
Work can have a huge impact on our mental health, especially in unprecedented times such as these. However, your feelings are important, so look after your mental well-being. This is possible by taking care of yourself – holistically.
If you are struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for help, and don’t be afraid to spend some quality time looking after yourself.
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