Holistic Soul Series: Workplace self-care to prevent burnout
Image: @wocintech
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had burnout or were close to burning out at work? ::Raises hand:: Workplace self-care is often neglected but it is so necessary. It consists of self-care acts that allow you to take care of yourself while you are at work. Workplace stress can take a toll on your emotional and physical wellbeing, and can lead to burnout. I’ve experienced workplace burnout and I suffered from terrible migraines. Once I started to take care of myself , my physical symptoms went away and I dealt with my stress better.
Here are some tips to help you prevent burnout and practice self-care while you are at work:
eat well
Take time to eat a well nourishing meal. I like to find recipes to meal prep on a sunday before returning to work. Choose a dish that is easy to prepare and rich in vitamins and nutrients. My favorite easy to prepare meal is southwestern style baked sweet potato with black beans and corn. Sweet potatoes are a great superfood to eat during the week.
move your body
If your job consists of sitting at a desk all day, I can’t stress to you enough the importance of movement. Take the time to stretch frequently at your desk. During your break take a walk outside or use the stairs instead of the elevator.
The power of “no”
Learn to say “No” when necessary. I’m not advocating for saying no to everything asked of you (You would be out of a job!). Always use discretion and establish boundaries for yourself.
Use your days
There is no gold star for you if you’ve never called out sick or never took vacation. Work-life balance is key. Taking days off will actually improve your productivity at work because you will come back refreshed and recharged. If you have earned vacation days and sick days, you should use them. Don’t power through a cold because you don’t want to let the team down. You are actually doing more harm coming to work while sick because you could potentially get others around you sick. They are your days that you have accrued to take care of yourself.
Just remember that your mental and physical health comes first no matter what. Your worth is not defined by your job title, you are more than that. I hope you found these tips helpful. Let me know in the comments how you take care of yourselves at work.