Thoughtful Thursday
Posted by StarChapter on Oct. 7, 2020 / Subscribe 0
Self-Care for the Professional Soul By: Lindsey Gregory, Marketing Manager, West Region PM/CM, WSP USA, Inc.
With Build Business taking place this week, I’ve been reflecting on past conferences and that good conference buzz. You know what I’m talking about: brain full of knowledge, veins full of bad coffee, and professional soul full of creativity.
I used to come back from the regional and national conferences with a new lease on my work life. And as excited as I am for this one (Did you see the programming? So good!) I also find myself trying to recreate that post-conference buzz without the benefit of travel excitement, meeting new friends in person and exploring new locations.
To that end, I’m not here to talk about how the dreaded “C-19” word is affecting us, but rather to share some ideas about feeding the professional soul through self-care. Now that the line between our work lives and home lives is probably indistinguishable, creating opportunities to re-energize your professional soul when you’re feeling depleted should be a top priority.
Professionally, I re-energize by being of service to others. Whether it’s creating opportunities to mentor younger staff or helping technical staff solve problems for our clients, I’m at my professional best when I feel like I’m useful to others.
On the personal side, with the election coming up and a diverse group of very opinionated family members and friends, I recently deactivated my personal social media accounts. However, I found myself missing that sense of connection. I decided to go old-school and started sending letters to friends and family members through snail mail and, because I’m a nerd for stationary, I also invested in some fancy paper and wax seals to make the experience that much more special. I’m hoping that these letters will make the days of my family and friends just a little brighter.
I’m just one person, though, and there are many ways to get that professional spark back. To give you some other ideas, I’ve reached out to our community and asked them to share how they replenish their professional soul:
“I am a busy bee, so sharing my “work” and “home” space has been extremely difficult. A few things that I do to replenish my energy when I can pull away from work are: meeting up with friends at a park for some social distancing batting practices. We bring out a pitching net, a bucket of balls and a sanitizing station; scheduling work virtual happy hours where we play jackbox games together on zoom; binge watching all the classic movies and shows on Disney+, particularly the Mandalorian; and gaming during my lunch break, to help de-stress!” –Karina Guevara, Project Engineer, Harris & Associates
“Working out in the Lusardi gym or riding my bike at lunch with my coworker’s is a great way to burn off stress and keep me mentally focused during challenging weeks! Incorporating fitness, mindfulness, and mediation have become staples for me during this strange period of life.” –Marcella Garofalo, Marketing Manager, Lusardi Construction Company
“The current crisis has identified the importance of recognizing the need for work- life balance. When not working, I like to stay active, whether it be walking, hiking, or playing golf. All of these activities help keep my mind fresh, my body active, and helps alleviate stress. Keeping a positive mindset and being active has really helped me stay recharged and refreshed and ready to face any challenge that comes my way.” –Marty Glaske, Senior Vice President, Client Development, Gafcon
“In these turbulent times I find it helpful to have a daily routine which consists of waking up and starting work at the same time each day, regular exercise, and making sure to leave time on nights and weekends to do things I enjoy. Having the structure and regularity of a routine helps me stay focused, and setting aside time for things that I enjoy helps to give me something to look forward to and keeps me energized.” –Erik Sadlicki, Business Development Manager, Dersch Design & Engineering, Inc.
“After sitting in front of a screen all day, home and work seem to blend into one long continuum. I’ve been trying to integrate hard stops throughout the day to rest, recharge, and do some fun activities like go for a walk, read a book, or work on a puzzle (yes, I’ve taken puzzles back up after realizing how much I liked them as a kid!). These little moments act like time dividends that keep my spirit and energy high long after.” –Suchi Lukes, Planner II, WSP USA
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