Self Compassion in the Workplace

Cultivating self compassion isn’t just for your personal life, it can also have a big impact on the way you care for yourself at work.  This blog post focuses on applying self compassion to your work schedule.  

There is no shortage of requests for your time and attention, and to-do lists have a tendency of growing at a faster rate than you can check things off.  This can lead to operating in a state of constant hustle, and by the end of the day that grind takes its toll.  

It may seem counterintuitive, but cultivating self compassion in the workplace can help you be more effective and work more productively while leaving you with energy for your personal life and commitments.  Self compassion in the work setting can look like setting boundaries around your time and attention.

Self compassion tips to improve your work day:

1. Honor your lunch time and breaks - this is a commitment to being kind to yourself and caring for yourself despite the never-ending demands that come from all directions.  Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but they should be exceptions and not the norm.   
I’ve worked with people who chronically worked through their lunch, and who would frequently schedule meetings over my lunch break without a second thought.  My approach was to check their calendar and propose a couple of time slots that didn’t impact my lunch schedule.  Most of the time, this worked easily and was not an inconvenience.

2. Be clear about your working hours, and stick to them as frequently as possible.  Honoring your personal time leads to having work-life-balance and that helps prevent burnout.  

3. Prioritize your work - not every request needs a response ASAP, and having a clear understanding of priorities can help reduce stress and the sense of overwhelm.

4. Pause and consider your schedule and workload before saying “yes” to new requests, and take your current workload into account when giving a due date.  

5. Delegate when appropriate - this doesn’t mean brushing off your work or not being a team player.  It’s about being aware of your priorities, commitments, and strengths and discerning when delegating a task will be helpful.  

6. Bonus Tip - Apply these self-compassion practices to how you engage with your coworkers and their schedules.

Schedule a free discovery call to discuss how coaching can help you apply more compassion to yourself and others in your workplace, benefitting your leadership, relationships, and overall wellbeing.