The Unusual Way Self-Care Makes Your Work Life Better
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."
Rumi
September is Health and Wellness Awareness Month, and self-care can be an incredible way to improve your well-being - and your life - on so many levels.
Earlier this month I posted a self-care checklist of practices that can help you feel calm, grounded and in the flow of your life.
This week, I want to look at an area of self-care not many people think about: the workplace.
Whether you work from home, or at the office, self-care in your work plays a huge part in your well-being - and can improve your experience at work, too.
By focusing on self-care - which means activities that improve your wellness by attending to your physical, mental and emotional needs - you increase your self-worth.
And having self-worth in spades can make work so much better.
When you treat yourself well, your work improves, your stress level improves, and the way other people treat you improves.
Instead of viewing self-care as weak, unimportant or overrated, you can view it as something that makes you more empowered, focused and respected.
And self-care is not just about yoga and healthy eating. It's about how you see yourself, how you value yourself, and how you stand up for your needs.
There are three unusual ways that you can incorporate self-care into your work, to increase your own self-worth, and in doing so, improve the quality of your work life.
Three Self-Care Practices for Well-being at Work
#1 Own your mistakes.
When you try to hide your mistakes, it almost always backfires. You make yourself small, hidden and fearful, which reads as low self-worth, unreliable and lacking in leadership qualities.
Instead, admit when you’ve done something wrong, apologize once, lay out the steps you’re taking to correct it, and follow through. This demonstrates integrity, courage and character.
This is self-care because you are demonstrating that you are worthy of being seen for exactly who you are, mistakes and all. It makes you feel good about yourself, and earns the respect of others, too.
#2 Ask for what you need.
Many of us tend to over-give in the workplace and are afraid to ask for anything. People will take advantage of this, because you aren’t holding yourself in the high esteem required to say no.
When you value yourself, and request time off, ask for help with a project, or assert your boundaries, you display self-esteem. No one can take advantage of you because you won’t allow it.
It’s not selfish. This is self-care because you are tending to your genuine needs, and building inner confidence, self-worth and a self-respect that all of us deserve.
#3 Be fully present. Then fully disengage.
Do you ever feel like you’re always plugged in? Whether you’re answering emails on weekends or thinking about work when you’re laying in bed at night, do you ever totally get a break?
On the other side of the coin, when you’re at work you’re already exhausted and so you’re only halfway engaged when you’re there. The self-care solution is to create a clear boundary.
When you are working, you are fully present and on task. When you are not working, you are unplugged and focused on family and friends, hobbies or relaxation. When you never allow yourself to be disengaged from work, you’re sending a message to yourself that you always have to do more - that you’re not enough.
By setting a clear boundary, you treat yourself and your time as valuable, and your nervous system gets a break from constant stress.
If any of these practices resonate with you, I invite you to try them on.
When you can be open about your mistakes, stick to your boundaries, and ask for what you want, you demonstrate strength, confidence and self-worth. And that feels amazing!
You may feel fearful, unsure or hesitant to be more open, transparent and assertive, but when you imagine that type of person, do you admire those qualities?
If so, go for it!
Not only is it totally freeing and energizing to be yourself; others will respond differently when they see those qualities in you, too.