FIVE PIECES OF ADVICE TO COMBAT STRESS, SET HEALTHY BOUNDARIES AND PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE #UNAPOLOGETICALLYYOU: TIPS TO PREVENT BURNOUT IN THE WORKPLACE K12 FRESH K12 CONTENT FROM
U napologetically ME is a hashtag, I often use on my social media platforms, to describe being the most au- thentic version of myself. This hashtag arose during a time when I was experiencing burnout, both personally and professionally. I had to ask myself some very tough questions, with the primary one being, “How do I over- come the burnout?” The answer, as I discovered, was to become the change I desired to see. Mental health burnout at work is categorized as the direct result of ex- cessive work-related stresses. The symptoms of burnout include the feel- ings of being overwhelmed, unmotivat- ed, disconnected, and the continuous BY MARY ELLEN GILLIAM
cycle of feeling as if work is never done. Honestly, we as Child Nutrition Pro- fessionals sometime during our career, if not currently have all experienced burnout. To tackle this, and become #unapologeticallyME again, I imple- mented the following #FabFive tips to combat burnout. 1 PRIORITIZE YOU Prioritizing YOU includes taking the time to get proper rest and self- care. This includes allowing time af- ter work to rest, relax, and rejuvenate, without distractions. This can include reading your favorite book, exercising, or binge watching your favorite show. 2 COMBAT NEGATIVE THINKING Negative thoughts have the pow- er to keep us in an unpredictable
and stressful place. Focusing on the positive, even in the most stressful sit- uations, assists in counteracting stress. One of the Site Supervisors in my dis- trict, Daisha Ottinger often reminds me, “Don’t let a bad moment turn into a bad day.” 3 ASK FOR HELP If you’re like myself, asking for help was self-interpreted as the inability to do my job. Asking for help often resulted in great idea sharing and applying the best solution possible. 4 BREAK LARGE TASKS INTO SMALLER STEPS Breaking down tasks into small- er to-dos reduces my feelings of being overwhelmed. I feel GREAT when I’ve accomplished a smaller goal, which I know is a part of the larger objective. 5 SET BOUNDARIES AND STICK TO THEM I realized, I always said, “YES.” This was at the expense of inconve- niencing myself and honestly add- ing more than I could handle. The very first boundary I set in place was scheduling, “ME” time after work. During this time I was free to do what- ever I desired whether it was exercis- ing or simply treating myself to my favorite restaurant. While burnout in the workplace can’t be fully preventable, implement- ing the above #FabFive tips, will de- crease its occurrences. Remember, it begins with YOU, despite the title you hold within your department. Once you have implemented the #FiveFab and begun the journey to combating burn- out in the workplace, encourage your employees and colleagues to do the same, resulting in a newly invigorated workplace environment.
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Q3 2024
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