Taking Time out for Self Care

Self-care is important after busy workdays. Balance in life can be incorporated in daily lifestyle changes but specifically chosen activities that pull up those areas of life that get lesser attention during the workweek are the most nourishing ones! They're the ones that keep our Wheel of Life running smooth, with all spokes and sectors moving towards optimal wellness.

Burnout is a very common description of a set of symptoms as an effect of 'chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed'. Earlier this year the World Health Organization classified Burnout as an Occupational Phenomenon . The statistics are worrying enough for business leaders as employee wellness strategies are gaining importance in their policies. Needless to say, employee wellbeing in all areas is paramount when it comes to the influence on the business bottom line. Healthy, happy employees increase productivity that influences the bottom line.

The responsibility of addressing this, however, is worth placing correctly on both parties. With business leaders modeling balance and prioritizing health and wellness at work and beyond, it is important for employees to also be coached to reclaim their wellness and wellbeing. In other words, they share the responsibility towards their wellness goals.

Embracing & encouraging self-care is a good way to bring in balance especially if it addresses are all areas of our life as individuals beyond career, professional aspirations & financial health. Areas usually experiencing a deficit of attention include physical, psychological, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual.

I personally employ an Ayurvedic, medical & holistic wellness approach to seeking balance - homeostasis - not just in physiological symptoms but also the non-physical. Our stressors and stress response is usually where we are either too stimulated and heading burnout or already in a state of exhaustion and struggling to keep up the energy

Here's a look at these areas and some ideas on how to nurture them towards improved and holistic wellness:

Physical: Getting sufficient exercise and movement - be in a walk or swim, a group class, yoga or pilates. This can also include getting some quality rest. Nourishing food is the most tangible of physical self care. A regular routine of self-moisturising, dry brushing are simple ways to connect with our bodies. Physical wellness looks at balance in health, nutrition, rest, physical connection and sexual needs.

Psychological: Mindfulness in activities, motivational and inspirational activities (both passive and active) help to build a psychological strength and cognitive skills. Reading and creative hobbies add to this aspect.

Emotional: Very closely linked to our psychological aspect, our emotions are a part of our personality that need expression. Suppressed emotions can cause deep stress and affect other areas of our life. Reflective journaling, expressing gratitude, self-compassion and understanding the concept of boundaries are all good tools to work on our emotional wellness.

Social: Humans are social beings and being connected with other like-minded people helps to create and build a sense of belonging. After spending about 10 hours with coworkers, creating engagement in groups of common interest outside of work is a wholesome idea. Spending time with family and friends builds social calibre.

Cultural: An extension of social wellness is building psychological attributes through cultural appreciation and a sense of deepened belonging. Appreciating art, dance, music and theater or even exploring these areas as a participative hobby helps to build neuroplasticity and wellness.

Environmental: Maintaining the living and working space has an impact on our mind, creativity and wellness. Decluttering has been shown to reduce stress as well as conscious participation in environmental wellness through community clean-up drives and other voluntary activities

Spiritual: Not to be confused with a religious affiliation, spiritual wellness is a conscious and mindful activity to build a larger context of purpose to our lives. Connecting our values and beliefs to build meaning in every activity we engage in helps to envision a guided path towards our larger goals. Meditation, reflection, moments of silence and practicing awareness are some ways to build spiritual connection.

As you will note, wellness is a combination or overlapping needs being met. The way forward is consciously choosing activities that garner a sense of wellbeing and wholesomeness in life - translated as balance in all areas of life and living. The Wheel of Life may never be a perfect circle and the effort is constant. Regardless, it is our own power to self management in caring for ourselves that we reclaim.

#selfcare #wellness #wellbeing #burnout #WellWithL