Self-Nurturing On The Job

This is taken from the book "Simple Abundance" by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Very timely, and so I thought I'd share it:

September 29

"When we truly care for ourselves, it becomes possible to care far more profoundly about other people.  The more alert and sensitive we are to our own needs, the more loving and generous we can be toward others." - Eda LeShan

Rituals of self-nurturance are the mortar that holds the day together, especially when you're spending eight to ten hours away from home.  Think of a favorite cup and indulgent brews that can be warmed in the microwave (an assortment of coffees, teas, hot cocoa, and cider). Set aside ten minutes at your desk with your cup and a closed door before the day officially begins; it can center you as you thoughtfully review what needs to be done. Ten minutes of quiet at the end of the day, straightening the piles on your desk, looking over tomorrow's agenda, can help bring an orderly closure to your day before you shift gears.  Ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes at night.  No matter how busy we are, we all can invest twenty minutes to preserve the precious resources of time, creative energy and emotion.

Create a pleasing and pretty workspace.  Aim for creating a comfortable nest instead of a sterile environment.  Bring in a wonderful desk lamp, baskets and wooden boxes to hold paper and projects, a flowering plant in the winter, and a small bouquet of seasonal flowers in spring, summer, and fall.  Find yourself a personal talisman - an object with special meaning - that reminds you that you're headed in the right direction.  Keep an ample supply of your favorite pens and pencils in cups on your desk; be on the look-out for notepads or cards that suit your idiosyncrasies and delight your senses.  My trademark is usin note cards three by five inches in size that are a cross between a business and a note card.  Little civilizing details can make a tremendous difference.  Search for a handsome pillow for your chair.  Add dashes of color wherever you can - your paperclips and folders, for example.  Hang a bulletin board near your desk for clippings, cards, cartoons, inspiration, and reminders.  If you have a private office and can hang pictures, keep the walls blank until you find something you'll never tire of looking at.

Now create a comfort drawer.  Fill it with everything you ever wanted at work and didn't have: a small sering kit; safety pins; an extra pair of hose and reading glasses; pain releif; Band aids and a small tube of antiseptic ointment; small packets of tissues. Tuck in breath mints, a chocolate bar, and a couple of blank greeting cards for quick notes to distant friends.

Remember your toy box at home? Create a small one at work for those moments when you don't want to be, or simply can't be a grown-up anymore, usually in the late afternoon: three dimensional puzzles, a yo-yo, paddleball, pick-up sticks, Chinese health balls, Silly putty, a miniature kaleidoscope, or a gravity-defying bouncing ball that is a replica of the planet Jupiter.  You get the idea.

Outfit a pretty cosmetic bag to keep in your desk with dental items, deodorant, scented hand cream, emery boards, eye drops, comb, brush, a small spray of your favorite cologne, in order to freshen up midday or if you can't go home before going out in the evening.

If you work in an enlightened office or have a private one, music, espcially classical selections, can be a powerful tool for productivity.  Aromatherapy can work wonders in an office setting; get a sculptureal scent diffuser (the size of a small vase). The warm fragrant water will discreetly put moisture back into the air around your desk (very important in heated offices), and the scent is very soothing or invigorating depending upon your needs.  The only drawback to using aromatherapy in the workplace is that more people might be drawn to your desk because the environment is pleasant.

Stretch twice a day, especially if you work at a computer for long periods of time.  Read Dr. Seuss aloud, especially "Oh, the Places You'll Go".

Every week or so, bring in something good to eat (it doesn't have to be fattening) in a pretty tin or basket to share.

Treating yourself well on the job is not impossible. It can serve as a source of inspiration to bring out your best. When starting a new project, ask yourself, is there anything I can do to make this task more pleasurable? If there is, do it.

The therapeutic value of treats in the workplace is probably the last thing employers think about as a benefit, but it shouldn't be.  Working happier accomplishes much more than working harder.