In today’s fast-paced world, being busy is often seen as a badge of honor. We are constantly connected, always on, and expected to be available at all times. The mindset of being on and constantly busy can lead to anxiety, stress, fatigue, and decreased self-esteem. It can also sabotage productivity and lead to subpar work quality.
So, how can we combat this “being-on-all-the-time” (BOAT) culture? The solution lies in sustainable holistic self-care, which prioritizes our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. By taking care of ourselves, we can improve our overall well-being and productivity. Here are some tips and self care strategies to help you disconnect from the busy demands of your work:
1. Setting Boundaries
Setting boundaries is essential to protect our time and productivity. We need to identify our work hours and down period, and set our communication tools to “busy” or “away” accordingly. We should make sure that we are not responding to work emails or notifications outside our regular work hours.
2. Practicing Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness is an effective way to connect with yourself, observe your thoughts without judgment, and ground yourself. When feeling overwhelmed, mindfulness can also help interrupt racing thoughts. By taking a few minutes to focus on your breath and observe your thoughts, you can cultivate a sense of calm and clarity. This can help you approach tasks with greater focus and intention, rather than feeling scattered or distracted. Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can be a powerful tool for managing stress and improving your overall well-being.
3. Prioritize Self-Care
Making self-care a priority is essential in countering the constant demands of the “BOAT” culture. It is important to spend quality time with our loved ones, appreciate ourselves, intentionally take breaks throughout the day and get enough sleep. Setting reminders on our phones or placing notes around our living spaces can serve as gentle prompts to pause, breathe, and prioritize self-care. By prioritizing self-care, we can enhance our overall well-being and productivity. Embracing self-care as a priority empowers us to establish a more sustainable and harmonious balance between work and personal life. Click here to learn more about mindfulness.
4. Remember Your Self-Worth
It’s important to remember our self-worth and recognize that it does not come from being productive or busy. We are valuable and worthy just as we are, regardless of how much we accomplish or how busy we are. To reinforce this idea, come up with a mantra that expresses what self-worth means to you or why you love and appreciate yourself. Recite it every day to remind yourself of your inherent worth and value. This can help shift your mindset away from this “BOAT” culture and towards a more sustainable and holistic approach to self-care.
5. Disconnecting
Make a conscious effort to disconnect from work and prioritize self-care by setting aside moments for yourself throughout the day, even if it’s just a brief break. It’s crucial to allocate specific periods for work or busy tasks, as well as dedicated time for personal activities. By intentionally disconnecting, you can ensure that you have the necessary space to recharge and take care of your well-being while managing your responsibilities effectively. Intention is powerful, please do not underestimate it.
6. Personalize Your Communication Tools
Personalizing your communication tools can be a useful way to prioritize your self-care and set healthy boundaries. For instance, you can integrate your Google Calendar into your Slack workspace and tweak your settings to update your Slack status based on your calendar. This helps your colleagues understand when you are available. You can also modify your email settings to receive notifications only during specific hours or set up an auto-reply message to inform people of when you will be able to respond. By personalizing your communication tools, you can establish a more sustainable and balanced approach to work and personal life.
7. Seeking Support
Seeking help is a sign of strength, and prioritizing your mental health can have a positive impact on all areas of your life. Prioritizing your mental health is crucial if you’re struggling with daily activities or experiencing a decline in your overall quality of life. If you use busyness as a way to avoid uncomfortable thoughts or emotions, it’s important to acknowledge and identify what you’re avoiding. Seeking support from a therapist can provide you with the insight and coping strategies needed to improve your well-being.
The (B.O.A.T) Being-On-All-The-Time mindset is like a boat without an engine, oars, or an anchor; it will be at the mercy of the current of the ocean or the tide. It can be pulled in multiple directions, making it difficult to move with intention. However, with the right support, it can gracefully connect with its environment and move in a direction with purpose or anchor itself still. This is one way we can view sustainable self-care; a strategy to slow down, sustain us in movement, or allow us to change directions.
Self-care is not selfish, it is essential for our overall well-being. By prioritizing sustainable holistic self-care, we can combat this BOAT culture and mindset. Improve our physical, emotional, and mental health.
Remember Self-Care is the Best Care. Why Wait. Start N.O.W
