Self Care in the Work Place

When you hear the term “self-care” what is the first thing you think of?

Maybe it’s sitting quietly meditating, treating yourself to a massage, or maybe using exercise as a form of self-care.

The truth is that self-care comes in many different forms and can serve to help us manage stressors in a variety of situations.

One of those situations may be a challenging work environment that you aren’t able to leave at the moment. But, without giving your well-being proper attention, you’ll face long-term detrimental effects.

“If you feel ‘burnout’ setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself.” – Dalai Lama

So what can you do to help manage stress within your workplace?

We’ve got three practical suggestions for you to try out (we’ve even used them ourselves so we know they work):

• Adjust or shift your schedule if at all possible – Are you able to go into the office earlier to work in a quieter environment? Can you use a few minutes of your lunch break to take a walk, go to the gym, or listen to a guided meditation? Make a commitment to yourself to give yourself a set amount of time daily that is just for self-care. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to help remind you. Let it be non-negotiable. Find the time of day that you need this self-care the MOST and make it happen during that time. 
• Open up – Talk about what you are struggling with and what about the environment is causing you concern. Share this information with trusted friends, family, or a therapist, but not co-workers or colleagues. Sometimes a listening ear and fresh, non-biased perspective can provide you with a new outlook or additional coping strategies. Don’t underestimate this tip!
• Change your space – This may not sound like a life-changing self-care tip, but small changes can have a great impact. Redecorate, physically move, change the lighting, switch your screen saver, add in some photos of those you love, etc. Others will notice these seemingly small changes and they will want to change too. Remember this – change doesn’t have to start with leaders, it can start with you!

Akramoff has the goal of creating healthy and happy workplaces. Places where managers and employees thrive, rather than just survive. Self-care is a key piece to this goal. While none of these suggestions are earth-shattering, they do require effort, courage, and determination. 

Know that we are here for you, so please reach out for the support you need to succeed.