It’s often said that your environment is a mirror reflection of emotional and physical health. “As within, so without.” Or, simply — “messy outside, messy inside.” It also goes the other way around: when you walk through a crowded airport, think about how your body reacts. Is there a change in your heart rate? A tensing of your shoulders? Shallower breath?
You may feel similarly at work as you do in a crowded airport due to stress or your posture causing shallow breathing. So, how would you hack your environment to make you feel more like you do in, say, a spa?
- Following these steps to put care into your workspace is a good start.
- Playing relaxing music helps.
- Nourishing yourself with the basic self-care practices below consistently
Drink Water
Seems simple but studies show that most of us are chronically dehydrated. Prioritize hydration in your day and workspace by having a full glass of water at your desk. Choose a glass, bottle, or karaf that delights you – simply having it in your vision will encourage you to drink when you need a break.
Food
The desk salad has become an infamous paradox in work culture: a healthy food choice but an unhealthy way to eat it (done while not looking up from the assignment at hand). Multitasking while eating will lessen your processing of food which could lead to overeating later. At a minimum, walk to another table surface than the one you work at and leave your devices behind. To become more present, go through the process of intentionally setting the table: eat from dishes you enjoy or light a candle before you eat.
Sleep
Given the 1,000,000 reasons that sleep is essential for us to live our best lives, ask yourself: is your bedroom designed first and foremost to support a restful night’s sleep?
Over the last decade, bedrooms have become a secondary entertainment center. In 2011, 95 percent of people admitted to using electronic devices with an hour of bedtime. Today it’s possible that it may be your only conference room. If you must work from your bedroom, make sure that all office paraphernalia is portable and that its deconstructed at the end of the work day.
If possible, try removing technology from the room altogether to make it a true sleep sanctuary. Install dimmer light settings for after sun down to support your body’s natural melatonin production. Invest time and attention to your sleep set up: Is your bed comfortable? Do you have the right pillows and linens to support your body? What rituals do you have around bedtime, and how could they be healthier?
Movement and Stillness
Moving our body and quieting our mind are essential rituals to feel our best, and when we’re feeling good, it is much easier to stay present. Whether you have a small corner to spare or an entire room to transform, carving out intentional space to move your body and to sit and meditate each day is a key to making the ritual a routine. Many clients of mine have removed guest room furniture or even their Netflix corner to make space for movement and meditation. Perhaps taking advantage of patios, balconies, and yards is a possibility. However you move or sit, prioritize living a healthy life and delineate your space accordingly.
Skimping on these self-care practices — or waiting for your body to ask for them — will distract you from a deep work state. Getting into a flow state, or “eustress” is the ultimate spa feeling: enhanced positive response to stressors, sense of fulfillment, meaning and hope.
