7 Simple Ways to Add Self-Care Into Your Work Routine in 2020

New year, new you. Wellness is top-of-mind as everyone begins to navigate the new year, especially with the theme of Community Manager Advancement Day being self-care. There’s so much information out there about what you should and should not be doing for your health, but what’s often forgotten is how you can seamlessly integrate health-conscious choices into your daily life.Within the busyness of life, there’s very little time to take care of yourself. Making self-care a part of your work routine will not only make you feel better about yourself, but will also improve your work relationships. Once you weave these ideas into your work life, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t prioritized self-care at work before.

7 Self-Care Ideas for Work

Incorporate self-care into your work routine and you’ll notice both immediate and long-term benefits. Once you make these seven steps a central part of your every day and you’ll see that both your work life and personal life are better than ever before. It’s time you stop hoping for more time for yourself and start creating more time for yourself.

1. Manage time

Stress negatively impacts both physical and mental health. One of the major drivers of stress is poor time management. Things like procrastination and missing deadlines cause an immense amount of anxiety.The best way to manage time well at work is by using project management software, which comes with tools to manage workloads and coordinate project deadlines. When you learn how to manage your time appropriately, you’ll find more space in your schedule for me-time.Block off time on your schedule for yourself. It’s not selfish to put blocks on your calendar that say “no meetings.” Creating these boundaries will help you stay focused and give you better control over your life.

2. Move more

Whether taking a lap around the office and standing at your desk, incorporating movement into your work day will help improve your mood and burn calories. Any type of movement counts toward this.Physical inactivity causes a range of health problems such as anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. That’s why focusing on preventative health measures like moving is important.There’s a reason the focus here is on movement and not exercise. It’s not realistic to expect yourself to get a break in your day to head to the gym or go for a run. Sure, people do it, but it’s rare to find a company that supports these efforts.That’s why just getting steps in throughout your day is important. Thinking about it: if you go for a 10 minute walk every hour, by the end of the day you’ll have an hour or more of walking under your belt.

3. Take your lunch break

Taking a break from sitting at your computer to get some face-to-face time with coworkers is crucial to your well-being at work. Not only does in-person interaction decrease fatigue, it also gives your eyes some time away from the screen.There’s a reason why employees are given a lunch break, so take it. Be mindful of every bite you take and don’t rush it. Food gives you energy for the rest of the day, and bonding with employees gives you meaningful connections.

4. Log- off of social media

We all know social media is a distraction, but it’s difficult to put your phone down when boredom strikes. Scrolling through social media creates a negative spiral while at the office. It’s likely most people posting on social media are doing something more interesting than you at that very moment and it’s not good to harp on things that go on behind the screen.Try logging off of all social media platforms while at work, that is unless you’re using a social media management tool for your organization. You’ll be shocked at the amount of time you save and how much better you feel. Instead of scrolling through Instagram when you need a pick-me-up, take a walk and say hello to some co-workers.You never know when you’ll need those connections. Robert Orben said ,”if you can laugh together, you can work together.” So take the time to laugh with your team so you can work even better together.

5. Drink water

It’s easy to say, and hard to do. Drinking water is the most simple way to look and feel better about yourself. It can become a bother because it leaves you having to go to the restroom more often, but drinking water suppresses hunger, and boosts skin health and beauty.Water also flushes your body from toxins, so you don’t have to waste time on sick days. Invest in a water bottle so you can also help the environment while helping yourself. If you’re having problems drinking enough water, make a competition with your team and make a prize for the person who hits their water intake goal the most consecutive days. That way it seems like less of a chore and more of a game.

6. Meditate

Meditating isn’t just a hot new trend. The science backing up the benefits of meditation are quite astounding. And guess what? You can meditate for as little as 3 minutes a day to gain the benefits.According to Headspace, after meditating for 4 weeks focus increased by 14%. And after meditating for ten days stress decreased by 12% and irritability reduced by 27%. So, book a meeting room every day for your meditation and your brain will thank you.

7. Create a playlist

Music can turn around a mood within seconds. Once your jam starts playing through your headphones, your day can go from dreadful to upbeat. The music you listen to throughout the day can really make or break your workflow.Create a playlist filled with focus music to help you stay on task. No matter your tastes, focus music will make your day go faster and bring back some positive memories depending on the songs you chose.

Treat yourself

You’re seven steps away from taking care of yourself at work. It doesn’t require a lot of time to add self-care into your work routine, it just requires a commitment from you. Work takes up at least 40 hours a week, so make that time count by giving some much needed love to your mind and body.