Self Care at Work: 10 Everyday Habits That Really Help

During a busy week, many of us will forget to pause, take a lunch break away from our desk and do one small thing to take care of ourselves. It’s easy to get bogged down in emails, deadlines and an endless to-do list during the work day and forget to look after ourselves.

Although self care might feel like a luxury, implementing just a few easy habits into the workday can prevent burnout, stress and help maintain productivity without being overwhelmed.

Today marks International Self Care Day, a symbolic day to highlight the importance of health and wellbeing. To help recognize the day, today we’re going to be highlighting ten easy habits you can implement during the workday to look after yourself.

1. Start Your Day With a Plan

Rather than diving headfirst into your emails as soon as you long on, spend five minutes in the morning creating yourself a to do list. This helps to prioritise your workload and stay on top of any important deadlines.

Although it can be tempting to get through the neverending piles of emails, unless they are urgent, most can wait until later on in the day.

Planning the day helps you stay on track, feel more organised and can reduce the chances of you feeling overwhelmed.

2. Stay Hydrated

During the warmer months most of us are quite good at staying hydrated, but this is vital throughout the year. It’s surprisingly easy to forget to drink water when it’s not warm outside, but it’s vital for concentration and energy levels.

An easy way to remind yourself to drink throughout the day is to bring in a refillable water bottle. Place it on your desk as a physical reminder to keep sipping.

3. Take Regular Screen Breaks

This is difficult when working in an office but staring at a screen for too many consecutive hours can cause eye strain and reduced productivity. Try following the 20-20-20 rule: every twenty minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Easy to implement throughout the working day, your eyes will thank you for the break and you will feel more productive as a result.

4. Keep Your Workspace Organised

A tidy desk is a tidy mind. Multiple studies have shown the psychological link behind clutter and mental load. Sending a couple of minutes at the beginning or end of each day by organising paperwork and putting items back in their place can make a huge difference.

Our top desk accessory recommendations for an organised space:

• Drawer sets
• Pen pots & tidies
• Letter Trays

5. Get Up and Move

Many of us will let several hours pass before we get up and move again. Sitting at a desk for too many consecutive hours can affect our posture and concentration. Just a short loop around the office every few hours, or a small walk on your lunch break, can help your brain to recharge.

Stepping away from your desk, even for just 15-20 minutes, can improve focus for the rest of the afternoon.

6. Make Your Workspace Comfortable

Maintaining good posture is an important part of workplace wellbeing and can prevent musculoskeletal injuries. Consider investing in a good office chair, monitor arms and ergonomic desk accessories to support you throughout the day.

We would recommend the Ergo range from Letiz, approved by osteopaths, to help support the long hours spent at your desk.

7. Keep Healthy Snacks Nearby

We all need to recharge throughout the working day. When energy dips, it’s tempting to reach for sugary snacks. Having healthier alternatives can help maintain energy levels without the afternoon slump.

Our range of high protein snacks, vegetable crisps and dried fruit are all healthier options to keep you powered through the day.

8. Reduce Distractions

Go through your phone and turn off any notifications from apps that aren’t a necessity. Having a constant vibrating phone full of notifications can drive our attention away from what really matters.

Nine times out of ten, these push notifications are entirely pointless. Keep your phone nearby and on for important calls and messages, but don’t let it divert your attention away from the working day.

9. Eat Away From Your Desk

Eating your lunch at your desk is the norm for up to 82% of office workers. It might be helping to save time, but it doesn’t give your brain enough time to recharge.

Stepping away from your desk, even for twenthy minutes, can help improve focus for the rest of the afternoon.

10. Finish the Day With a Tidy Desk

Taking five minutes at the end of the day to have a quick tidy works wonders. File paperwork away, tidy items and prepare tomorrow’s to do list to help you approach the next day positively.

This can also help you switch off from the working day and start the next day on an organised foot.

Final Thoughts

Self care doesn’t mean a complicated wellness routine. It simply means making a few changes during the day to look after you. Often, it’s not a spa day or wellness retreat that makes us feel better, but the small habits we repeat everyday that have the biggest impact.