It’s common knowledge that working too much can cause exhaustion and make you counterproductive, disorganized, and emotionally depleted. In honor of Self-Care Awareness Month, we want to encourage you to take the time to work on your mental health and your physical health. We want you to focus on YOU and do the things you love!
I didn’t realize that self-care was necessary until I began to feel excessively tired and constantly worried about accomplishing the next tasks on my to-do list. Yes, we have a lot of responsibilities – fixing the dryer, mowing the lawn, paying the bills. One of my colleagues Adriana shared that when she lost a loved one, she immediately tried to throw herself back into the routine of tasks and chores. However, it quickly became apparent that she needed to give herself time to grieve and share those emotions with her close friends and family.
Now, I tell people that taking care of myself is also my responsibility. Little things like sipping tea while looking at the raindrops falling on my window glass, enjoying a warm bubble bath, and reading a book helped me to refocus on my daily happiness. It's important to schedule time for ourselves. Otherwise, we can easily get lost in our busy schedules. I actually block out dates and times that are dedicated to focusing on myself that I cannot cancel no matter what! Even at the office, we plan intermittent breaks (for employee appreciation lunches, celebrating employee birthdays, etc.) and set professional boundaries to avoid overextending. We do this to ensure that we stay sharp, motivated, and, most importantly, healthy.
We value self-care as health professionals because we cannot give our best to our patients without taking care of ourselves first. If you feel good, you’re more likely to enjoy your work and manage the rest of your day. This season, I will spend time enjoying the smell of the changing seasons and taking in the beautiful fall colors. I will give myself time to do things that I love like decorating, enjoying fresh produce, and getting sufficient rest.
We hope you’ll make time to do things that make you feel good this month. And maybe even stop by to see us!
- Jeannie, Office Manager
