SEAHO Report - Fall 2019 - 23

SEAHO Feature Articles
Self-Care in the Workplace
Anastasia Chaky, Morehead State University
Colton Goodman, Georgia Southern University
Self-care is a term commonly mentioned around the workplace and something we personally continue to strive
for. It's easy to let work become the focus and not take care of yourself. It's important, however, to ensure the
care of yourself to be helpful and beneficial to the students. Sometimes, waiting for the next day off comes
far too easily. Just a day or two away from work isn't needed to engage in self-care practices; there are many
strategies we can implement while at work to continue engaging in effective self-care. Here are some great
activities we have learned that can be utilized at work:
Self-reflection. One mentor always reflected on how they were doing. It showed that reflection is good practice
to always know where they personally stood in any scenario. Starting this, we have become less stressed over
many situations. Think of it as a self-assessment, though don't be too hard on yourself (that would defeat
the purpose). Self-reflections should include personal, professional, and academic goals and aspirations (if
applicable).
Go on a walk. Sometimes, getting some physical exercise is all you need to feel better. Getting up and going for
a facilities walk-through or walking outside of your respective building can help get some fresh air and maybe
dust away the mental cobwebs, to tackle what is next on the list.
Take a lunch break. Whether or not you are a big lunch eater, taking a lunch break is important. Use that time
for whatever you see fit. Eating, relaxing, working out, or running a quick errand are all beneficial and can help
to stay motivated in the workplace.
Be proactive. If a big project or task is due soon and there is time to work on either, start those projects early.
Having them done early will allow time for anything that might be happening later in the hall. Or, if other tasks
pop up randomly (that never happens...), to focus on them all while not being stressed about that upcoming
completion date.
Make a coffee or tea date with a colleague. It's not a literal date. Whether it's coffee, tea, or a soft drink, this
will give you a break to get something to energize and catch up with a colleague. Small breaks can assist in the
development and growth of that relationship.
Keep your desk organized. It can be easy as the projects pile up to let the desk end up in a state of disarray,
though this can lead to having a cluttered mind. Keeping a clean desk can allow the mind to stay organized,
reduce stress, and complete projects in a timely manner.
Do some breathing exercises. Taking some time to do some breathing exercises can help calm the mind and
allow the positive feeling to better navigate the workday. These can also help clear the mind as well. One
helpful exercise we have found is to breathe in for five seconds and then breathe out for another five seconds.
There are also many different apps to assist with breathing techniques if help is needed.
Fill up a water bottle. There are several reasons why filling up a water bottle is beneficial. Hydration is
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SEAHO Report Fall 2019

SEAHO Report - Fall 2019

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