September 26 is HR Professional Day, a day to set aside time to appreciate the hard work that our HR professionals put into ensuring successful operations. If you are an HR professional, the best way to show yourself appreciation for the hard work you are doing is to start practicing self-care and start balancing your needs with those of the organization.
HR professionals must take time to put themselves first. We encourage our employees to take time for themselves but tend to forget about ourselves. Dictionary.com defines self-care as “the act of attending to one’s physical or mental health, generally without medical or other professional consultation.” Self-care means taking a break from whatever challenges are going on in the workplace and making your well-being a priority.
Why it is Necessary
HR is responsible for communicating with employees about any organizational changes. This often results in HR acting as the messenger of bad news, e.g., layoffs, firing, reductions in benefits, and policy changes. HR professionals also have employees confiding in them with their work and sometimes personal issues. Constantly being the person responsible for being empathetic and nurturing to all company employees can weigh on anyone.
Principles of Self-care
- Self-reliance
- Empowerment
- Personal independence
- Individual responsibility
- Self-efficacy
Practical and Easy Self-care Options
- Attain training on managing stress and developing healthy coping skills
- Add boundaries around working hours with consistent breaks
- Care for your mind and body through consistent exercise
- Stretch at your desk
- Take a brief walk outside
- Stand and walk around the office every hour or two
- Go to the gym
- Connect with trusted colleagues and talk about something other than work
- Spend time with family
- Attend training or read books on emotional intelligence
- Meditate, listen to music, cook
- List daily priorities to keep yourself on track while at work
- Celebrate all your wins, no matter how minor they seem
- Keep a gratitude journal
HR self-care also means recognizing when you need help to cover your workload and projects. Empower yourself to advocate for when you need support so that you can balance both your needs and the organization’s. If you need external support, whether it is for ongoing HR services or to tackle a needed project, remember that Rocket City HR Consulting is here for you.
By Jodi Graves SHRM-CP
