Americans have always been viewed as having a hard-working attitude. We don’t take vacations and holidays as often or as long as most other countries do. Our work days are longer and more stressful than others. Even starting in high school, our children go to bed later and wake up earlier than many European countries. To work hard and ignore any type of distraction is practically in our DNA. How many times have you been at work and heard a co-worker coughing or sneezing? How many times have you been that person at work? As Americans, we’ve put work over physical health for decades. We might not be feeling well, but still feel the need to show up to work. Or we might really want to start a class at the gym, but don’t have the time or energy after work to make it happen. Work has come at the cost of physical and mental health for years, until now.
Right now we are going through what many are calling “The Great Resignation.” It’s a trend in which more Americans are willingly leaving their jobs than at any time ever before seen. Why? Employees are learning that their physical and mental health and safety is actually a priority; that they matter. The global pandemic has put a spotlight directly on that fact.
Not everyone can up and leave their jobs, though. We have families, mortgages, commitments. That doesn’t mean we can’t do what others are doing and start prioritizing our physical mental health. We just need to know how to do it while remaining in the workforce. Creating a work-life balance can sometimes seem like a tightrope walk, especially with old-fashioned ways of thinking. But, in these new and uncharted territories we are facing today, a change in mindset is the perfect way to move forward.
So how do you start self-care while working? Even if you’ve never thought about self-care or your own mental health, there are a few simple tips to use in the workplace to make sure you’re prioritizing the thing that matters most: you! FHE Health Director of Public Affairs, Janet B. Gerhard, gives some helpful practices in a recent interview she did for FHE Health. Let’s go through them:
- Compartmentalize your work. This means turning off our phones (or not checking our work email/texts) so we aren’t constantly receiving communication from work when we aren’t there. You shouldn’t be responding to work related emails in your free time!
- Learn how to be assertive and say “no.” A last-minute deadline presented to you at the end of the day? It’s okay to say no if it isn’t realistic and takes advantage of your time.
- Don’t take on additional responsibilities. You have a job description, stick to it.
- Make time for things you enjoy! This is why the tips above are so important. If you compartmentalize your work, learn to say no, and don’t take on additional work outside the scope of your position, you’ll have time to do the things you love. Plan it. Put it in your calendar, and set reminders. Exercise! Go out with friends! Read on the porch! Play video games! Make sure you’re enjoying your life and do it intentionally.
Now is the perfect time to start prioritizing your mental health. Advocate on your own behalf. Whether you work from home or work onsite, be deliberate about your time. It is possible to create a harmonious work-life balance to minimize your stress and maximize your time both at work and at home.
If you or someone you love are in need of mental health services please contact us today at 1-888-986-7848
We accept most major insurances
