Six ways to take care of yourself at work

Wellness in the workplace is important in order to avoid stress and burnout. Here are six quick suggestions for taking care of yourself in the workplace and maintaining your work-life balance

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Mind

Reclaim your lunch break

Why not make the most of that precious hour – or half hour – by trying some of these suggestions.

• Organise a picnic or lunch with colleagues: take advantage of the summer sun and make the most of clean air. Find a cosy café, or try a new and exciting restaurant, to enjoy good food with your colleagues.

• Hold a group activity: if there’s a green space near your workplace why not organise a game of rounders or football, hold a guerrilla gardening session, or a group walk? Take time to enjoy the outdoors and get re-energised for an afternoon of productive work.

• Take up a challenge: local sponsored walks or marathons are a great way to keep active. Sign up with your colleagues and train together during lunch breaks. Participating as part of a team can create a communal sense of achievement when you complete the challenge. You could even support Mind’s work by signing up to one of our running events.

Whistle while you work

• If you’re feeling stressed, listening to a calming song can take your mind off work for a few minutes and help you unwind and refocus. Research has found that slow, quiet music can encourage relaxation and reduce anxiety.

• When you’re working hard to complete a task, music can also help eliminate distractions around you. By blocking out the noise of your fellow workers, machinery or bleeping ‘phones you can focus more easily on the task at hand. 
• Listen to your favourite song as a simple treat to yourself. Rewarding yourself is a great way to boost your general wellbeing, giving you some added motivation so you can better tackle a big workload.

Create clear boundaries between work and home

Try not to let work spill over into your personal life. If you need to bring work home, designate a separate area for work and stick to it; you’ll find it much easier to then close the door on work.

Start a to do list

At the end of each day go over your list and write up one for the next day. When your thoughts are down on paper, you’ll find it easier to not think about work.

Use the time on your commute home to wind down from work

Read a book or listen to your music to set aside some time to yourself. Maybe try cycling part of your journey, or getting off a stop early to take a shortcut through a park or quiet streets. These little actions can really help you to switch off.

Ask for help

If you feel your workload is spiralling out of control, take opportunity to discuss it with your manager or supervisor. If you can’t resolve the problem of unrealistic goals, organisational problems or deadlines in this way, talk to your personnel department, trade union representative, or other relevant members of staff.