Ways to prioritise your health in your career

April 7th is World Health Day, so here are some tips on how to prioritise your health in your career.

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know that whilst I share book reviews, I also share blog posts relating to careers and health.

Yesterday was World Health Day, and as someone who prioritises their health and that of their loved ones, I thought I’d share some tips on ways to prioritise your health in your career.

These tips won't necessarily apply to everyone, but they are food for thought. If you're finding that your health isn't at its best, then think about ways you could improve it, including in your work life.

Implement the Pomodoro Technique

I first learned the Pomodoro Technique in high school. My school implemented the technique during my GCSEs to help us study more productively.

Essentially, you work or study for 20 minutes at a time with a five-minute break in between. The technique helps ensure you’re focused when needed but that your brain and body get a reprieve.

If you know what work or studying you need to do, then setting aside specific time to complete them helps you work smarter, not harder.

By doing the Pomodoro Technique, you’ll prioritise your health because you won’t be sitting for long periods of time, and you’ll be more likely to avoid burnout.

Use To-Do Lists

This is a tip I’ve often shared because I do believe in the power of a good to-do list. But I’m sharing it again because having a to-do list can help you prioritise your health by breaking down your tasks.

It doesn’t have to be an overly complicated list, but writing down each task will help make it more comprehensible and less overwhelming.

Once you’ve completed a task, you can tick it off, which makes you feel happy because you’ve achieved something.

Don’t bring work home

This tip won’t necessarily apply to everyone, depending on the job you do. But for some, it can definitely help prioritise your health in your career.

What I mean by don’t bring work home is that setting defined boundaries between work and home life can help you look after your health because it separates career stress from home life.

Sometimes, it can be easy to bring work home, to let the stress of work and looming deadlines impact your home life, but by separating the two, you’ll give your mind a break from work.

You’ll allow yourself to focus fully on home life, and then revisit work when you get back to the office. It isn’t easy, but if it’s possible to leave work at work, then it can help prioritise your health.

Unwind with an evening routine

One of the most important aspects of our lives that can improve our health is sleep. It is so important we each get enough sleep at night, but that can be difficult, especially if there’s a lot of stress.

However, creating a night-time routine that will help you unwind can be a useful tool to ensure you have a good night’s sleep.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It can simply be getting into your pyjamas and reading a chapter of a book. Or perhaps you enjoy solving puzzles, and completing a couple in a puzzle book sounds relaxing.

Whatever it may be, try it for a week, just before you’re about to go to bed, so that when you drift off to sleep, your body and mind are more relaxed. That way, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.

Don't be afraid to move on

This tip is possibly a bit controversial. Not everyone will have the luxury of being able to move on, to switch careers and change their career path.

However, if you do, then it's something to consider, especially if your current situation is having a negative impact on your health.

Sometimes, it can be good to consider a change in career. You might find a more flexible job might be helpful, or the opposite — something with a bit more structure.

Fear can hold us back in life, but when it comes to our health, we shouldn't let fear stop us from doing things that could potentially help. If there are other concerns, such as financial, then one thing that could help is evaluating your lifestyle and seeing where you can cut back so that you can prioritise your health by making a change.

Our individual health is incredibly important, and we must prioritise it. I struggle a lot with putting myself first, but I am learning that if I don't look after myself, how can I expect to look after someone else?

It is okay to be a little bit selfish sometimes, especially when it relates to our health. I hope these tips help you in prioritising your health in your career.

Until next time...