The hustle culture got us thinking that we have to be available 24/7. We cannot say no because that means we’re not ready to succeed. We have to work until the wee hours of the morning because hard work and sacrifice eventually pay off. But this is not a sustainable way of living. Soon, we’ll crash and burn. It is neither healthy nor a good long-term plan.
Most people think that taking care of one’s self means doing that during their spare time. That’s not it. You have to find a way to take care of yourself while you’re at work, too. That means going to your neuropathy doctor if you have to or going to the gym for a quick 30-minute run during your lunch hour. You have to find a way to stay sane while at work because burning yourself out isn’t healthy.
Use Your Lunch Break
You know what? Far too many people use their lunch breaks to work. They will try to finish reports and cram as much as they can in that one hour. They’ll grab a juice and a sandwich, call that lunch, and rush back to the office to prepare for a meeting. There is no time for you to breathe. Don’t do that yourself. Use that lunch break. Whether it’s to have lunch with your officemates or meditate or go to the spa or walk in the park, what’s important is for you to take a breather.
Be Proactive
Being competent will stop your boss from breathing down your neck. If they know that you can competently finish your tasks, they won’t be checking on you every 10 minutes or so. That reduces workplace stress and anxiety. Be proactive by finishing your tasks on time. If you think you’re being given way too much work, tell that to your supervisor. Don’t say yes to everything and sacrifice your mental health to be a good employee.
Step Away If You Need To
You are not helping yourself by sitting on that chair and staring at your laptop because your brain is too tired to think. You need to take a break. Go for a walk in the park. Go to the pantry and mingle with your office mates. Check your social media. Do something that will take your mind off your work. As much as you want to finish all your tasks and duties, remember that you are being less productive when you’re exhausted from thinking all day. Take a break and give yourself the chance to destress.
Decorate Your Workspace
Who said that your workspace needs to be a dingy place where dreams come to die? Make it bright. Hang photos of your travel abroad and your loved ones. Decorate it in a way that will make you happy. You don’t have to spend too much on it (although you can if you want), but it needs to be an area where you will want to spend time in. Since you’re there eight to 10 hours each day, you might as well make it as livable as possible.
Move Your Body
Find ways to move around throughout the day. Ask your boss for a standing desk so you can work there when your lower back is too painful from sitting all-day-long. Get an ergonomic chair and table, too, so you won’t have to suffer from muscle strains throughout the day. You can even do desk yoga and exercise. If you need to do jumping jacks in the middle of the day, do that.
Balance Work Relationships
One of the most stressful things about working is dealing with officemates. Don’t make it a stressful workplace by arguing with officemates about things that don’t affect your job. Stay out of political and economic topics. Don’t engage in squabbles, too.
Say hi to your officemates in the morning. Spend time with them during your lunch break. You can even hang out with them on weekends if you hit it off. However, make sure to balance your friendship and work relationship. That’s a tricky thing to do, but it’s well worth it for your peace of mind.
Your mental health matters all the time. You shouldn’t focus on it only when you can. Make time for yourself, whether you’re in your home or the office. And if it ever gets too much, don’t hesitate to seek professional help or at least, talk to a loved one about how you’re feeling. Job burnout is a real thing. Don’t wait to experience it before learning how to take care of yourself.
