The Power of Prioritizing Mental & Physical Health in Your Career скачать в хорошем качестве

The Power of Prioritizing Mental & Physical Health in Your Career

Generally, when we think about our career or working life, our physical and mental health isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Many of us direct our thoughts towards courses, resumes, salaries and job search sites. The term ‘career’ now includes all the roles you undertake throughout your life. This could include education, training, paid and unpaid work, family, volunteer work, leisure activities and more. As you can imagine, juggling all of this takes a lot of energy and effort. Taking time to look after your physical and mental health is a great way to perform at your best and get the most out of your career. Here are some interesting facts on why staying healthy can be great for your career: Exercising can reduce stress hormones and improve concentration and memory. Studies have shown exercise can have positive effects on the symptoms of depression. Feeling physically and mentally healthy can be great for your confidence. Regular exercise can help to improve your sleep. Mentally demanding activities such as dancing, puzzles and crosswords have also been shown to improve cognitive function. That all sounds great. But how does it translate into the real world? Secondary school years Let's start by looking at secondary school years. This is a great time to start developing healthy career habits that can continue throughout your life. Secondary school is an opportunity to try different sports and creative activities. It also provides structure that can help you develop the time management skills you'll need to balance your career going forward. One of the most stressful experiences during high school is preparing for and taking exams. To perform at your peak in exams, you need lots of energy, focus and concentration. Getting enough sleep, managing stress and keeping a good study-life balance are essential for getting through this period. Here are some examples of simple strategies that can help you include healthy activities in your school life: Walk to school if you can or get off the bus a stop or two earlier and walk the rest of the way. Join an existing school sports team or theatre/music group or have a chat with teachers about introducing a new team or sport to their program. Plan ahead and pack a healthy lunch (instead of buying something from the canteen). Get a group of friends together to train for an upcoming event or fundraiser (e.g. a charity fun run, triathlon or adventure race). First job Your first job is another stage of your career that can benefit from regular exercise and effective stress management. Maintaining confidence while gaining your first job can be challenging. You will need to network, apply for jobs, attend job interviews and successfully navigate the first few weeks of working at the job. Looking after your physical and mental health during this time can boost your confidence and help you stay motivated. This doesn't mean you have to become a gym junkie. Find what works for you and take time to manage stress effectively. Here are some options when you're in the early stages of your career: Ask your local council if they offer any free fitness or support groups for young people. Many councils have a youth worker on staff who can advise on what's around. Sometimes they can even help you get connected with suitable organizations. Check to see if you can find any grants or funding to develop a sports team of your own. Download a free fitness or relaxation app on your phone or computer. Throughout your career Maintaining your health and wellbeing over the course of your career benefits both you and your employers. In your job, you may consider generating more healthy activity into your workplace. Some simple strategies to get you started may include: Buy healthy snacks instead of cake and biscuits for staff meetings and events. Participate in and support employee sports or team building events. Introduce walking meetings or take regular breaks to stretch during the day. Find out how to access your organizations Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if it has one. Remember, you can benefit your career in many ways by taking time to look after your physical and mental health. It doesn't have to be expensive. Small changes to your workplace, school or lifestyle can make a big difference in how much you enjoy your career. It can help you get the most from it as well.