Self-care is more than a spa day, vacation, or pre-planned me-time. Instead, consider how self-care can take place anywhere, anytime. Let go of the idea that you can recover from a long hard work week with a fleeting pampering session on the weekend. Consider these seven strategies instead:
- Make the most of your lunch. Rather than letting your lunch time get away from you, find ways to make your mid-day a priority. Consider the benefits of recharging by being outside, meditating, stretching, zoning out to a podcast, or visiting with a friend or family member.
- Equip your space. Because we spend so much time at our desks, make your workspace as comfortable and functional as possible. At a minimum, tidying up your workspace can give you more mental clarity. Put up pictures, artwork, or images that inspire you or remind you of the people and ideas that matter.
- Celebrate successes. Remember what you did last week? Probably not. Once we’ve completed a deliverable or crossed the gauntlet of a busy week, we’ve already moved on to the next thing. Instead, hit the pause button. Allow you and your team to review the previous month, and write down what went well or what felt particularly satisfying. This type of debriefing helps everyone stay connected and recognize what’s important about work—important contributions and effort that made a difference.
- Be proactive about what you need. Feeling overwhelmed or bored because you need a challenge? Have a simmering conflict with a boss or coworker? If you want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself, be proactive; take steps to address what’s on your mind. Overcoming whatever confronts you can boost your confidence, productivity, and overall satisfaction.
- Set challenges for yourself. Because boredom is such a threat to productivity, keep adding to your skills or exploring what’s new. If you want to excel at work, consider setting a goal of reading a certain number of industry-related articles per week. Whatever will keep you focused and engaged, add it to the list!
- Set boundaries. Figuring out where to draw a line can be one of the hardest things to do, but that 10 p.m. email can wait. When work spills into personal time, it can be a major source of stress. By setting no-work zones in your routine—whether it’s not checking email on a Saturday or turning off your phone by a certain time every night—you’re better able to add balance to your life.
- Accept all your emotions, but choose one to focus on. Emotions are neither good nor bad; they’re part of every day. Instead of wasting energy trying to suppress negative emotions, ride them out. And if you’re feeling happy or particularly gratified, great—run with it. Positive energy has a way of building on itself.
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Harvard Business Review: Ways to Weave Self-care into Your Workday