#BeWell: What Does Self-Care Mean When it Comes to Your Work Life?

Self-care describes the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health – this applies to both physical health and mental health. So, when it comes to your work life, how do you ensure that you are looking after your wellbeing?

With more and more people making the move to work from home, work life as we know it has changed. But no matter where you’re working from, the fact remains: Practicing self-care helps to prevent burnout, and that is why it shouldn’t be ignored.

Self-care is important for employers and employees alike

Stress is an inevitable part of life and it certainly comes with the territory of high-pressure work environments. However, as the world slowly makes a shift to becoming more aware of mental health, an increasing number of workplaces are starting to understand the benefits and importance of promoting employee self-care and stress management, which is not only in the best interest of their employees but can also better their business.

Workplaces that advocate for self-care may well see an increase in employee productivity, engagement and overall business success. In addition, less employee burnout can lead to lower turnover rates, fewer healthcare costs, improved focus and better employee/client relations.

When working from home, a stronger onus is placed on the individual employee to put practices into place to protect their own physical and emotional wellbeing.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is defined as: “what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness.”

So, how can you practice self-care when it comes to your work life?

Here are some tips you can put into action to help prevent burnout and improve your emotional, physical and mental wellbeing:

Create an ergonomic work environment

Ergonomics are a fundamental factor for any healthy work space, be it at home or in the office. Ergonomic office furniture such as ergonomic office chairs and desks are a worthwhile investment if you spend the majority of your workday seated at a desk or computer.

Ergonomic furniture refers to furniture which has been designed to support function and comfort for human use – reducing the risk of musculoskeletal problems, joint and back pain and other health problems. By ensuring your work space is ergonomically sound, you can improve your productivity and job performance as well as your morale while reducing the risk of injuries.

Wondering where to start?

Check out these handy resources which cover everything you need to know from finding the right ergonomic office chair or office desk to creating the perfect home workstation:

Practice daily stress management

Your daily lifestyle plays a significant role in your ability to mitigate and handle stress. Some effective activities to help manage stress include:

Exercise and regular movement
Getting plenty of sleep
Eating a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet
Drinking ample water
Getting enough exposure to sunlight
Avoiding or limiting alcohol intake
Practicing meditation and/or other relaxation techniques

Separate work and leisure

All work and no play is a guaranteed recipe for stress and burnout. Setting clear boundaries between work time and leisure time can help to ensure you ‘tune out’ when it’s time to sign off for the day. For example, avoid using technology or checking your emails before bed and be more mindful of what activities you are doing in your down time – ideally, these activities should not be work-related thus allowing you to rest and recuperate so that you are recharged when it’s time to return to work.

WORTH READING: 5 Steps to Creating Healthier Habits When Working from Home

Treat yourself (but don’t forget the boring stuff)

Although hashtags like #treatyourself and #selfcare are widely used on social media (often in unison), people sometimes mistake self-care for self-indulgence which ultimately does not do much to safeguard their mental or physical health. In its most simplest form, self-care is about performing small daily tasks that help you maintain a balanced lifestyle while looking after both your mind and your body.

That said, we all deserve a little TLC every now and again! Consciously allocating time that is dedicated purely to rest and relaxation can, in the long run, help you to boost productivity. Whether it’s treating yourself to a massage or a trip to the spa, or another form of everyday self-care such as tidying your room, enjoying a walk in nature or preparing a wholesome meal for yourself.

If you are looking to treat yourself and reduce tension in the process, why not try a Mini Massager? The Beurer Mini Massager is perfect for treating yourself to a soothing massage when you need it most. It’s small enough to fit into your handbag or satchel, making it the perfect travel companion – providing relaxation at the home, office or when on the go.