PREPARE THE OTHERS

Public Service Announcement forthcoming. WE are replaceable on our jobs, ask brother Jamie Foxx. WE are irreplaceable to our loved ones. Since the start of the year, I've noticed a significant increase in people calling to start therapy because they've "reached a breaking point" or feel as though they are "drowning." This declaration leads me to explore factors contributing to their sense of drowning and self-care practices. Take a moment and guess the factor most commonly identified as a source of relentless stress. If you guessed work, then you guessed correctly. Unfortunately, what is also common is the belief in lack of time or the inability to slow down momentarily to allow themselves to recharge or care for themselves healthily.

You can't perform at your most optimal level if you're operating on fumes. Your mind needs rest. Your body needs rest. Your soul needs rest. Involuntary rest due to illness isn't the same as voluntary rest. When you're forced to rest due to an illness, your body shifts to recovery mode and goes into overdrive, working to replenish all it lost due to illness or injury. However, when you consistently, strategically, and voluntarily rest your body, you experience the optimal benefit because your body isn't trying to recover from a deficit.

When was the last time you called your place of employment and said, "I'm calling out today?"

Seriously, do you recall the last time you decided to take the day off, not because you felt bad but because you wanted to prioritize wellness? When did having perfect attendance or an abundance of PTO become a flex? Is it an actual flex, a symptom of unhealthy work boundaries, a manifestation of trauma, or a signal for potential burnout? Perfect work attendance and poor health shouldn't be a measure of good work ethics, your title as a team player, or how committed you are to advancing your profession. Perfect work attendance may reflect poor boundaries, de-prioritization of self, and an increased risk for severe physical and psychological injury.

As we approach this upcoming season of freedom (Juneteenth) and love (PRIDE), offer yourself the liberating gift of removing the shackles of sacrificing yourself for the people and places of employment who will not hesitate to replace you. Instead, commit to loving yourself differently by establishing healthy boundaries at work and with others. If you can't decide what to do on your mental health day, the short answer is REST. However, if you want to leave the house and move your body, consider a few of the following next ideas.