Self-nurturing on the job is the last thing employers think about as a benefit...
The older I get, the more rituals of self-care are the gel that holds my day together — whether when I’m spending eight to ten hours away from home or glued to the work desk at home.
A favorite cup and an indulgent brew that can be warmed in the microwave (an assortment of coffee, teas and hot chocolates). Try setting aside ten minutes at your desk with your cup and a closed door before your day officially begins. You may find that it has a centering effect as you thoughtfully review what needs to be done with your day.
How about ten minutes of quiet to straighten the piles on your desk, looking over tomorrow’s agenda? This can help bring a tidy closure to your day before you shift gears.
Ten minutes in the morning. Ten minutes at night.
It doesn’t matter how busy we are. We can all invest twenty minutes a day to preserve our creative energy and emotions. These are precious resources of time.
Whether at home or at an outside workplace, treat yourself and create a pleasant and pretty workspace. Try to aim for a comforting nest as opposed to a cold, sterile environment.
Get creative and bring a favorite desk lamp and interesting containers to hold papers and files, maybe a seasonal plant or fresh flowers. Find a special trinket or object with special meaning to remind you that you’re headed in the right direction. Keep a good supply of your favorite pens and pencils in creative cups on your desk. Be on the lookout for stationery or note cards you love to look at. Little inspirational details can make a big difference.
Go on a search for a pretty pillow for your chair. Add dashes of color to your paper clips and folders. Hang a bulletin board near your desk for clippings, cards, reminders and inspirational materials. If you have a private office and are able to hang pictures, keep the walls blank until you find something you’ll never get tired of looking at.
Create a comfort drawer. Put in it everything you wanted at work but didn’t have: a small sewing kit; safety pins; an extra pair of reading glasses; pain relief; band aids and a small tube of antiseptic ointment; small packets of tissues. Add to that breath mint, a chocolate bar, and a couple of blank greeting cards for a quick note to a friend.
Create a small “toy box” for those moments when you simply can’t be a grown-up anymore, usually late in the afternoon. You can include three-dimensional puzzles, tarot cards, a Yo-Yo, silly putty, a miniature kaleidoscope. You get the idea.
Get a pretty cosmetic bag to keep in your desk with dental items, deodorant, scented hand cream, a nail file, eyedrops, hairbrush, a small spray of your favorite perfume, in order to freshen up in the middle of the day or if you can’t go home before going out after work.
If you work in a creative environment or have a private office, music, especially classical selections, can be a powerful tool for creativity and productivity.
Aromatherapy can work wonders in an office setting; put a diffuser with essential oils on while you work. The scent is very soothing or invigorating, depending on your needs. The only drawback to this is that more people might be drawn to your desk because the environment is so pleasant.
Stretch twice a day, especially if you work at a computer for long periods of time.
Treating yourself well on the job is not impossible. It can inspire you to bring out your best. When you are starting a new project, ask yourself, what can I do to make this task more pleasurable? Then do it.
Self nurturing on the job is probably the last thing employers think of as a benefit, but it shouldn’t be. Working happier accomplishes much more than working harder.
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