Wellness at work
Is wellness at work possible? What would wellness at the bedside; or wellness in the classroom looks like? Can you have self-care in the office?
If you work outside the home, then you spend most of your waking hours there. That doesn’t leave much time for exercise and/or self-care, such as cooking nutritious meals, massages, pedicures, rest, relaxation, renewal; you get the picture. Unless you are very intentional with your time away from work, your own wellness gets put on the back burner.
One of the simplest ways to start to add some wellness to your day is to take breaks. I know the world of nursing, in the hospital, has a cultural norm of not getting breaks. That needs to stop. You are busy, you are under-staffed, you are over-whelmed, and you don’t have time. I’m sure the days are quite similar in a classroom for teachers; and in office settings around the world. How good of a job are you doing though, if you don’t take breaks? How much can you give from an empty tank? You need to fill up.
Breaks for breathing: if you take a five minute break you can completely renew your energy. How? With breath work. Our breath is one of the only things we can control. Find a quiet spot. Breath in through your nose to the count of four, hold your breath for the count of four, and exhale through your nose for the count of four, pause for the count of four and begin again with your inhale. Box breathing slows your breathing down, lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. It allows you the opportunity to concentrate on a deep inhale, opening up your lungs in a way you don’t do with quick shallow breaths you take when you are busy and stressed. It allows your mind to be thinking about breathing; and that is all.
The benefits from your breath break will only be recognized if the guilt over taking that break is gone. Break the chains that bind you to the feelings of obligation to put yourself last.
Once you have begun to take breath breaks you will be able to use your new found skill in other areas and times throughout your day. When you are at the bedside, or in a stressful situation, you will be able to draw from your experience of controlling your breath. If you need to steady your hands, or need to not verbally respond in anger; if you need to be the calm in the room, or center your thoughts; you can fall back on your box breathing.
Peace in practice, is what wellness at work looks like.
to be continued: more wellness at work ideas….