Put Yourself at the Top of Your To-Do List

From focus time to coffee time, your self-care doesn’t get to skip the 9-5.  

Let’s be honest: the self-care term has become a bit of a social media influencer buzzword lately. But TikTok fads aside, taking care of yourself is important. And your workday shouldn’t get in the way of that.

Taking care of yourself is a full-time job, but it’s not just a 9-5.

More workplaces are taking mental health seriously and offering more resources and benefits to support their employees. Nap rooms, flexible working hours, virtual therapy apps, and more are becoming mainstream. These are great benefits for you to take advantage of. But sometimes, small things can make a big difference.

Here are some easy habits you can build to prioritize and take care of yourself during the workday (that didn’t come from a social media influencer).

Get away from your desk.   

You’ve heard of the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain: For every 20 minutes you stare at a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.  

Let’s take a cue from the eye health experts and extend this relief to our brains as well. Work takes brain power, and like all powerful things, our brains need to be well-charged to work well.  

So, block time off for a real lunch (we mean it—no desk salads) or a walk around the block. Or even just lying on the couch for some quality social media scrolling. 

We’re serious about no desk salads. Here are some delicious alternatives instead.

Set up Do Not Disturb time during your workday. 

Making time for mindfulness during the workday often slips to the bottom of our to-dos. But your peace of mind, and mindfulness, should be thumb-tacked to the top of your list as your Priority 0.  

Many of our workdays are centered around some form of technology—a computer, a machine, a register, or something else. And while we’ve probably all fantasized about our own Office Space moment at some point, most of the tech we have today is a lot more helpful than it used to be.  

Here are a few of our favorites: 

• Focus modes: Outlook will book recurring focus time in your calendar for you and set you on Do Not Disturb to help you establish boundaries and protected work time. You can also do this manually by setting a private recurring calendar block for yourself.  
• Focus playlists: Spotify has a well-curated library of Focus playlists, from deep concentration to upbeat writing tunes.  
• Focus AI: Sometimes, the best way to focus is to build more efficiencies. There are many generative AI-based tools today that can help us cut the noise and focus on creative problem-solving or strategizing.

Move it 

Not every day needs to be a 10,000-step day. Any kind of regular movement is beneficial for our mind and body. 

Whether you’re getting up to grab a second (or third) cup of coffee, taking a mid-day fitness class, investing in a standing desk or walking pad, and even just a quick walk around the block, making time for movement in your workday keeps your blood moving and the ideas flowing. 

As cozy as that desk may be, make time to move your body during the workday. These 17 tips can help you build variety and motivation.  

Good Vibes Only 

Nah, we’re not peddling toxic positivity here.  

You deserve to prioritize yourself 24/7, including during your workday (whether that be 9-5, swing shift, or something else entirely). Whatever self-care looks like for you, it should be something that feels good, supports your mental well-being, and above all else isn’t a chore.

There are so many more insights about self-care on our Businessolver blog. Check out our most recent Vision 2024 Conference recap or our Solver-curated self-care tips.