Self-care in the workplace

Lena Görmann
Lena Görmann

Why self-care is important

Taking care of yourself in the workplace is important for many reasons. Despite this, we regularly ignore it or recognize it as something not as important as finishing the pile of work. Put simply, we feel bad for taking the time to take care of ourselves. Neglecting self-care has become part of the culture in the workplace and has had many negative side effects. Through stress, anxiety, and depression a toxic work culture can negatively impact your mental health, therefore taking the necessary steps to avoid this should be mandatory in every workspace. Creating a safe environment for people to take care of themselves is necessary, and everyone can become a part of creating this space for self-care for themselves and their colleagues.

How self-care can help you

Improving the way you feel about work will help your mindset and can boost your motivation. However, if you continue to be unhappy with your professional life, you should take time and re-evaluate what it is that you want. Start by asking questions like the obvious (but not so often asked) why am I not happy in the position I am in now? Is it possible that I am not being praised/acknowledged for my work? Am I not enjoying my career? Do I have an interest in something completely different?

Introducing self-care into your routine

Neglecting your personal care can increase anxiety, distractibility, anger, and fatigue. You may also experience decreases in sleep, relationship satisfaction, self-esteem, empathy, and compassion.
It is something that not a lot of people accept yet, but mental health is just as important as physical health. Therefore taking the necessary steps to take care of yourself, not just at work but also at home, should be a fundamental part of your routine. For example, taking a few minutes a day to conversate with your loved ones has been shown to improve a person's mood and health levels.

Self-care is not selfish

Being selfish means there's a desire to take from others, whereas self-care is about replenishing your own resources, not taking from someone else's. When you practice self-care you learn that you're enough, you have enough, and it is ok that you make yourself a priority. Selfishness excludes others, whereas self-care does not. It is your responsibility as a human being to take care of yourself. simply being mindful of your own needs and taking care of them should be mandatory.

Examples of self-care in your everyday life

Creating a self-care routine is necessary to keep a stable pace, doing things like:

  • Physical self-care
  • Develop a regular sleep routine
  • Aim for healthier eating habits
  • Take your lunch break to really relax
  • Go for a walk at lunchtime or after work
  • Exercise before/after work regularly
  • Drinking a decent amount of water (helps with those headaches)
  • Walk around the office once an hour for 2 minutes
  • Talk to colleagues to refresh your mind
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