How to Practice Self-Care at work
Self-Care at work starts with small micro changes in our day that can grow into a healthier work-life balance. Here are Ten Tips that can make a difference in your day.
You may associate self-care with relaxing baths, hiking, or getting your nails done. All the things that relax and nourish you in your off hours. But self-care at work is an essential and often overlooked aspect of your work-life and overall well-being.
You spend a significant portion of your time at work, and the demands of your job can often take a toll on your well-being. Self-care at work can be just as important (if not more so) as self-care in your personal life.
So what does self-care at work look like? Here are ten tips for bringing self-care into your workday.
These ten tips are an excellent place to start.
These are my top 10. They become progressively more challenging, with the first four an excellent place to start.
Tips 1 - 4: If you’re already regularly integrating the first four into your day, move and find a practice you haven’t yet tried or practice with fluidity.
1. Take breaks
Taking regular breaks during the workday puts you on a path to prevent burnout. It also naturally supports higher productivity. You can take short walks, stretch, or step away from your desk to give your mind a rest.
It sounds counterintuitive to step away regularly and be able to get more accomplished, but it's not. There's a chain reaction that occurs when we take a break. The more refreshed you are, the better you feel, the more effective you are.
Plus, taking this bit of control of your time is empowering. Granting yourself permission to step away from your work and recharge leads to feeling less overwhelmed and more powerful. This, in turn boosts your creativity, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.
2. Practice mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness sounds so easy, but where do you start? Don’t have experience or success with techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or visualization exercises (especially at work). There are other ways you can be mindful.
Try something new, like sitting in another spot in a meeting, or go somewhere new for lunch. And improve how you feel as you go through the experience.
Giving your mind a chance to escape the worry and overthinking loop and observe your surroundings can help you stay centered, calm, and focused during stressful situations.
3. Stay hydrated
Drinking enough water throughout the day can help you maintain energy levels and improve concentration.
Do you struggle with making this happen? Keep this in mind: stress and dehydration have a relationship. Water can help calm you when you’re stressed. Dehydration can generate stress. Eek!
Here's a simple practice to put into play.
Start your day with 12 oz of water. Then, set your alarm for four points in the day. When the alarm sounds, get up and have some water. You’ve just had 60 oz. of water. Cheers!
4. Keep healthy snacks on hand
Healthy snacks like nuts, fruits, or veggies can boost your energy.
While your taste buds may love junk food, your body love