Working with people in an emotionally charged field can be extremely fulfilling, but it can also be very draining. It’s important to make sure your own cup is full before you pour into others. Or, in my mind: you can’t charge a phone by plugging it into a dead battery. Is that a weird analogy? Anyway, it’s especially vital in roles that require a high level of care and compassion to make sure you’re offering that same care and compassion to yourself. Here are a few strategies for enjoying life outside of work and filling your own cup.
I’m the type of person who, after a hard, draining day at work, just wants to go home, curl up, rot on TikTok for five hours, go to bed, and do it all over again the next day. It can be hard to break that cycle because, after a long and taxing day, the idea of doing anything that uses more energy feels even more exhausting than the eight-hour workday that just wrapped up. But it is so important to find ways to fill your cup that don’t feel like there’s a crack in the glass letting everything leak out.
So, let’s talk through a few strategies for finding enjoyment in life when it feels like work is starting to take over.
- Enjoy your lunch break:
Whether you get 30 minutes or a full hour, find a way to get out of the office and do something you enjoy. My work bestie and I have committed to going for a 25–30 minute walk every day just to get out of the office, get outside, and move our bodies. It’s the perfect opportunity to gab with your pals and simply be a person, not just an employee. This is also a great segue into another tip… - Make friends with your colleagues:
Making friends with your colleagues is a great way to make work feel like more than just work. Getting to know the people around you can help you enjoy the environment you’re in and feel like there is a more personal layer to being at work. Even knowing their dog’s name or asking how their daughter’s dance recital went can break down barriers and add a warmer, more personal touch to the relationships you have at work. - Find a hobby:
Okay, so this one is hard. I am not the type of girly who hobby-maxes, so trust me, I get it. It’s hard. But literally, just find something that feels enjoyable and lets you chill and turn your busy-brain thoughts off while still keeping your mind healthy. There are so many options, like watching Gilmore Girls and learning to crochet (love Gilmore Girls, can’t crochet, so kudos to anyone who can), listening to music while doing Sudoku puzzles (my fav), or finding a book with a cutesy cover and reading it. It literally does not matter how big, small, or intellectually enriching it is. I am a whodunit, no-thoughts-involved girly through and through. - Move your body:
I knowwww, EVERYONE and their cat tells you this, but, like, for real, it’s important. I don’t mean a two-hour pump every day. Literally, just go for a walk or a bike ride, or take a belly dancing class (I joined a belly dancing group once with my colleague, and it was so fun), because physical movement really does boost your mental health. - Spend time with family and friends:
Again, another no-brainer, but, for real, it can feel so hard to do when you’re exhausted and don’t want to socialize. Following through with plans is SO important (this is coming from the queen of cancelling). Literally, just sit down and have dinner with your parents for an hour or FaceTime your friends. Being social is so important, even when it feels insufferable, and having people in your life who don’t make you feel like you’re “on” is so important.
Finding enjoyment in life while working in an emotionally demanding role can be difficult. It is never a bad thing to be someone who truly and deeply cares for the people you serve, but it is extremely important to look for ways to leave work at work and enjoy the time you have outside of it. I really hope these tips are helpful, or that they at least spark some inspiration to build strong personal relationships and create your own list of things that make you happy!
Love your life inside and outside of the office!
