Working in the non-profit industry, especially one like AIESEC, can at times be draining physically and mentally. When you have passion for your work, you can tend to overthink, overwork, and overcommit to certain aspects of your work. Since the pandemic, conversations about mental wellness in the workplace have taken priority for young people entering the workforce.
So, here are a few tips I’ve learned as a passionate non-profit manager and AIESECer.
1. Understand Yourself First
What do you like to do in your free time? Do you prefer to be alone or socialize? What excites you outside of work? Do you have hobbies? Understanding what makes you happy is the first step in ensuring a quality work-life balance. Since work can be demanding, I really enjoy being alone, but after a while, I realized I still need social interaction to feel fulfilled and loved by my community. With self-awareness comes self-care, so understanding who you are and what you like to do outside of work is essential in caring for yourself.
2. Don’t forget about the things you love to do
So often when work consumes our thoughts, we get into a routine of going to work, working out, coming home, making dinner, and going to bed. More often than not I catch myself with such little time especially when I have to work overtime.
Reminding myself of the tasks that bring me joy like walks alone, reading, and calling family and friends helps fill my cup and take my mind off work.
3. Move your body
In a typical desk job, you are sitting for 6-8 hours out of the day. Without my standing desk, I would also be subject to this. Getting myself to take a quick walk, go to the gym or even stand up for a few hours during the day helps immensely. Sometimes stretching 10 minutes before bed can make a world of a difference.
Not only does exercise release endorphins, but also relieves stress, clears my head, and allows me to perform better in the workplace.
4. Eat Delicious Food
Notice I didn’t say healthy, I said delicious.
There is a healthy food that is so yummy, and it is important to take care of your body and nourish it properly because there are so many benefits to that. But, take the time to cook or buy food that you genuinely enjoy and make you feel good before, during, and after eating it.
We all have a deep love and passion for what we do in AIESEC, but if we do not take care of ourselves and our wellbeing, we cannot show up as our best selves for our team, LCs, and stakeholders.
In the end, the key to thriving in a demanding workplace is finding that delicate balance between dedication to your work and dedication to yourself.
Author: Abiseniya Lemma, President of AIESEC in the USA