The Covid19 pandemic has had an international affect on health & economies alike. Sadly hundreds of thousands of people have now fallen foul of Covid19 & globally the impact Covid19 is having on the economic sectors is also having an affect.
For many business owners this year has posed some extreme challenges & where some key & essential provision businesses have thrived: some businesses such as hospitality, events & personal care have taken an enormous financial hit.
Anyone who runs their own business knows that it can be a fully immersive & often times stressful occupation. Never knowing what is around the corner, business owners stress levels can be naturally heightened as they must keep an eye on the changing economic landscape. The Covid19 crisis has put a great strain on business owners & employees alike, not knowing if as we move forward in to the ‘new normal’ if they will survive & thrive.
Last year the World Health Organisation recognised burnout as an “organisational phenomena” & not a medical condition, citing “burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” (1)
Therefore, how do the symptoms of ‘burn-out’ manifest themselves? Every person reacts differently to work related stress & mental illness, but some of the physical & emotional signals are (this list is not exhaustive):
- Alienation & withdrawal from work-related activities: People experiencing burnout view their employment status as increasingly stressful & frustrating. They may become dissafected about their working conditions & their work colleagues.
- Physical symptoms (this list is not exhaustive): Chronic work related stress symptoms may manifest themselves as headaches, stomach aches, feeling dizzy & nauseas or suffering with intestinal issues.
- Emotional exhaustion: Burnout causes people to feel mentally & physically drained, often feeling unable to cope & feeling extremely tired, lacking energy to get their work done & often times feeling irrational about otherwise seemingly simple tasks.
- Reduction in performance: Burnout can affect everyday tasks at work, with individuals feeling negatively about completing tasks & finding concentrating a challenge & often lack creativity or drive to engage in anything.
So, how can a business owner help prevent & or pull back from these symptoms & strive to find a semblance of work life balance? Virtually Smart Ltd have compiled some ideas to help.
Mindfulness
Practising ‘Mindfulness’ can take on so very many different forms, but the main element which can be beneficial in a stressful environment, is the notion of being mindful & in the moment. Some mindfulness practitioners advocate that even the smallest moments throughout the day, can have the greatest impact.
One such example is the notion of stealing a few moments outside, breathing in the air, being aware of your surroundings, which in turn can give the brain time to ‘re-boot’ helping you to be more proactive & productive upon your return to the work environment.
If you are unable to remove yourself entirely from the working environment, then perhaps creating a thankful list is another mindfulness technique. Consider all of the things you are thankful for in your life & write them down in a diary or notebook. When you are feeling overwhelmed; access this part of yourself & remind yourself of the life you have beyond work, creating a sense of calm to your overworked mind.
Getting enough sleep & avoiding screen time before bed
It is no great secret that plenty of rest & good quality sleep, enables the body & mind to rejuvenate. However, research also proves that being on a phone or having screen time right up to the moment of sleep; doesn’t allow the brain to unwind enough & can make the brain too active to be able to produce what is known as ‘good quality sleep’.
Too much screen time directly before sleep, can act a little like having too much alcohol & can cause the same symptoms as an alcohol related hangover the following day. Going to work already feeling befuddled & lethargic; cannot set anyone up well for the day ahead.
Eating plenty of leafy greens & fresh vegetables, hydration & exercise
Eating well not only fuels the body, but also the mind. Ensuring you strive to ensure you eat a well balanced diet, can for some, be challenge. However, with an ever more mindful focus on eating well & health; the options & availability are endless.
Keeping hydrated & avoiding copious amounts of caffeine throughout a working day, can help body & mind. Your brain needs fluids to remain active & can become dehydrated if not hydrated effectively. Plenty of water, low sugar juices & fruit teas are a refreshing way to remain hydrated. Often when people feel hungry, it is actually that they are thirsty; such is the power of the bodies needs for hydration.
Fitting exercise into the very busy lives we all lead, can be challenge. But there are so many ways to incorporate even small amounts of exercise into a week. Simple things like a brief brisk walk, if you have a dog, taking them for a walk, can make a huge impact on your overall wellbeing.
Phone apps with 5/10/15 minute workouts are readily available & could be incorporated into a morning routine, lunchtime or even before bed.
One thing Covid19 has taught a lot of business owners & employees, is that there is a life beyond business & so very many who have been working from home/been furloughed & businesses which have been forcibly closed; have been able to embrace other activities such as exercise, gardening & spending time embracing activities they have not found the time to do so, while immersed in the daily running of their businesses.
Written by Katy Jane on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd.
