Six Tips for Maintaining Wellness in the Workplace

My Personal Workplace Wellness Story

14 years ago, my world came crashing down when my husband was diagnosed with a chronic illness. As an ambitious full-time professional at a Fortune 100 company, I was suddenly faced with navigating between full-blown career pursuer and a caregiver. Ultimately resulting in a very unhealthy work-life balance and years of self-neglect.

In 2021 the roles were reversed, and I found myself in the patient seat. This prompted my own soul-searching journey, seeking answers deep within, in a quest to find my way back to health and happiness.

With that in mind, I want to share with you what I learned and the steps I implemented, after my diagnosis, to make my place of employment a more joyous, peaceful, and welcoming arena for all who enter that space, including yourself. Most importantly, check in with yourself periodically and consider if this location, position, salary, or environment is best for you.

Six Ways to Keep Yourself Well at Work

1. Set positive intentions.

Begin with a prework exercise, yoga, meditation, or your preferred ritual to set the intention and energy for the day. Perhaps extend your shower for two minutes to recite a mantra, prayer, or affirmation. Journaling is another great way to kick-start the day, by following up on your progress and the promises you made to yourself in the previous entry.

2. Keep hydrated.

Working for any duration of time while dehydrated is a recipe for disaster. Always keep a healthy beverage with you – it really does make a difference. Dehydration can lead to headaches, dizziness, mood swings, fatigue, and a host of other unpleasant side effects.

3. Fuel your body.

A tasty smoothie, a piece of fruit, or a handful of your preferred nuts/dried fruit/leftover veggies from the night before will make all the difference in your day. The people who consume unhealthy fried foods or foods loaded with preservatives will crash and burn much earlier than those who load up on nutritional foods that provide energy reserve for your cells.

4. Practice self-care.

Figure out what to do in moments of stress and tension at work to regulate your emotions, including incorporating de-stressing and energizing techniques. Internalizing stress can manifest as mental illness, substance abuse, and most often, conflict at work and home. To relieve stress, add plants, photos, artwork, vibrant charms, stress balls, or other relaxing items to your workstation. Use your allotted break times, take a walk around the complex (or your home), do chair yoga, and engage in any activities provided by your workplace that help you deescalate from stress-filled moments.

5. Make time for fun.

Schedule relief after work! Consider joining a recreational sports team, attending yoga classes, learning to sew, volunteer at a horse rescue, starting to craft, practicing martial arts, or traveling with a book club.

6. Get involved at work.

Join committees and seek leadership positions at your workplace that are responsible for structure, activity, and organization. These are the people making things happen, including implementing resources and opportunities for the office to become a healthier place to be! Also, utilize your downtime to get to know and share common interests with those around you; this is your chance to create a more welcoming space to thrive in your job!

The Bottom Line

Keeping yourself well at work involves maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Sometimes, no matter what you do, the job may not be the right fit for you ‒ or perhaps the people and environment may not be amenable to the space and energy you require. Although it may be scary, you might have to leave that gig and pursue other options.

Sometimes it’s a case of dreams deferred: You may have a great job yet feel urged to pursue a higher calling or different path. It’s possible to do both! If you'd like to create your side hustle, hobby, or alternate passion – do it! I did and I'm thriving in both environments.

Wishing you health and happiness!

Jeannet