IN OFFICE WELL-BEING : TAKING CARE OF PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH WHILE AT WORK
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL LEADERS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CARE AS A FOUNDATION FOR THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND WELL-BEING . THERE IS A PLETHORA OF LITERATURE AND ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC WHICH OFTEN FOCUS ON ASPECTS SUCH AS HEALTHY EATING , ADEQUATE SLEEP , AND REGULAR EXERCISE – ALL OF WHICH ARE GOOD HABITS TO MAINTAIN . HOWEVER , LITTLE FOCUS IS GIVEN TO THOSE ‘ IN-OFFICE ’ PRACTICES THAT POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO SELF-CARE , WHICH COMPOUND OVER TIME AND CAN MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE TO A PERSON ’ S QUALITY OF LIFE , CAREER SUCCESS AND FULFILMENT , A LEADERSHIP EXPERT SAYS . “ AS YEAR-END NEARS , MOST PEOPLE ARE TIRED , AND THE HOLIDAY BREAK CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH . BUT 2024 AND A FRESH YEAR OF WORK IS NOT FAR BEHIND THE BREAK , SO THIS IS THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IMPLEMENTING IN-OFFICE PRACTICES THAT WILL ENSURE YOU MAINTAIN YOUR ENERGY AND CAN GIVE YOUR WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE YOUR ALL IN THE NEW YEAR ,” SAYS PETER KRIEL , GENERAL MANAGER AT THE INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION , SA ’ S LEADING PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDER . HE SAYS WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT TO BUILD THOSE HABITS THAT SUPPORT MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING OUTSIDE OF WORK , THE 8 HOURS PLUS OF OUR WORKDAY SHOULD ALSO BE HARNESSED TO ENSURE OPTIMAL AND ONGOING WELLBEING , TO AVOID BURNOUT . “ WHILE THE SPECIFIC IN-OFFICE SELF-CARE HABITS CAN VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON , THERE ARE SOME FUNDAMENTAL ONES THAT SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE EMPLOY TO IMPROVE BOTH THEIR PERSONAL WELL-BEING AND THEIR PERFORMANCE AS LEADERS AND MANAGERS . THESE ARE HELPFUL TIPS REGARDLESS OF YOUR STATUS – WHETHER YOU ARE A STUDENT , EMPLOYEE , MANAGER OR SELF-EMPLOYED ,” HE SAYS . THE MOST IMPORTANT HABIT TO DEVELOP IS EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT , SAYS KRIEL . “ EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT IS A CRITICAL SELF-CARE HABIT . SUCCESSFUL LEADERS OFTEN USE TIME MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES , LIKE PRIORITISING TASKS , SETTING BOUNDARIES , AND DELEGATING , TO AVOID BURNOUT AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE . PROCRASTINATION IS THE MAIN ENEMY OF GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ULTIMATELY ADDS TO STRESS LEVELS . “ SO , IF YOU KNOW YOURSELF TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A PROCRASTINATOR , RESOLVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LIES BENEATH YOUR TENDENCY TO PUT THINGS OFF , AND DEAL WITH IT AS A GIFT TO YOURSELF IN 2024 .” IN ADDITION TO ENSURING YOUR TIME IS USED EFFICIENTLY , THE FOLLOWING HABITS CAN HELP YOU MAINTAIN AGENCY AT WORK , AND FEEL EMPOWERED AND IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE , SAYS KRIEL : CONTINUAL LEARNING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEARNING AND PERSONAL GROWTH ARE VITAL FOR SUCCESS . SUCCESSFUL LEADERS OFTEN ENGAGE IN LIFELONG LEARNING BY READING , ATTENDING SEMINARS , TAKING COURSES , OR SEEKING MENTORSHIP TO STAY UPDATED AND ADAPT TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS . NOT BEING ON TOP OF DEVELOPMENTS , THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND OTHER CHANGING ASPECTS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD MAY NOT SEEM LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD IMPACT SELF-CARE , BUT IT DOES , BECAUSE YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO FEEL STUCK IN A RUT , AND YOUR SKILLS WILL REMAIN RELEVANT IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT WHICH REDUCES STRESS AND CONCERN ABOUT JOB SECURITY .