The Self Care Triad & Corporate Burnout
- Feb 7, 2022
- 5 min read
Written by: Dr. Tomi Mitchell, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Corporate burnout is a growing topic of concern for companies and their employees and entrepreneurs and managers. When people experience stress on the job or in their personal lives, it's only natural that they might feel pressure to bring those worries back to work with them. Corporate burnout is when an employee has to deal with working long hours a high-stress workload and is not given time for proper sleep or relaxation. This can cause mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. Individuals must be aware of the corporate self-care triad.
The self-care triad has three pillars:
Self Care
Team Care
Business Care.
Self-care is most directly linked to individual wellbeing and includes activities that help restore your mind, body, emotions, and spirit. These techniques include exercise, nutrition, getting enough sleep, creative expression (e.g., drawing or journaling), meditation/mindfulness, spending time with loved ones or friends, recovery activities (e.g., yoga or walks), hobbies, and outdoor adventures. Doing any of these things regularly will not only make you feel better; it'll also increase your productivity because you'll be creative, energetic, and more engaged at work. It's much easier to take care of yourself than it is to ask others to do it for you!
Team self-care recognizes that we work together and not work in silos. Leaders should encourage employees to take time out of the day, during or after work hours, where they can relax and recharge. Though sometimes easier said than done, this article will provide you with some great tips on self-care strategies that you can start implementing today!
Self-care falls under both prevention and intervention models of health. Prevention means ensuring employees are in the best possible position to thrive and have optimal health and wellness outcomes. Prevention has the outlook that in life, one can succeed instead of just surviving.
Intervention implies that there is now a growing concern or problem, and strategic actions need to be taken to mediate the situation. To me, intervention is helping the individual or corporation survive.
Self-care interventions are proactive actions designed to maintain wellness in individuals, groups, or entire organizations before burnout begins. An example would be if an organization can identify life events (e.g., anniversary of the death of someone in their family) that might put employees at risk for developing a particular condition, they can take appropriate action to prevent the adverse event from happening to their employees. Also, some corporate policies and targets might, over time, be potentially detrimental to their employees' wellbeing. For example, corporate policies allow flexible work schedules or extended leave time for new parents.
The idea of self-care in business settings is to focus on both individual's and teams' wellbeing while caring for the overall organization while promoting long-term success. Encourage employees to work at their own pace while still reaching key performance indicators. One needs to find the appropriate balance between productivity and wellness.
Self-care interventions can help individual employees cope with stress before it becomes overwhelming and enable team members to communicate better and collaborate. Encouraging dialogue about personal challenges–primarily related to stress or mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, addictions or other issues–can foster improved relationships among colleagues. Furthermore, organizations should consider implementing policies that promote workplace wellness, such as not glorifying excessive work hours for prolonged periods.
Teams should ensure that employees have the means and know-how to care for themselves before they burn out or become a liability. Employees struggling with personal issues such as addictions, mental health problems, or family struggles need their managers' support or human resources support to offer solutions when possible and avoid any risk of harm.
I recognize that corporate workplaces have a business to manage, but the leaders need to acknowledge that they are working with humans and must respect their humanity.
Businesses can encourage self-care by including an employee wellness section in their online learning platform. By providing access to information on mindfulness meditation, yoga, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and other relaxation techniques, teams will manage the demands placed upon them more effectively and sustainably. Self-care is the practice of making time for oneself and one's wellbeing. Corporate wellness programs include sleep, yoga, meditation workshops and exercise classes, nutrition coaching, and employee assistance programs (EAP). Businesses that have a self-care focus will sustain their efforts over time. It is a big help for employees striving to do their best work. Our teams need more from us as leaders if we expect them to be engaged contributors and achieve our high team goals, especially those trying to escape corporate burnout. We must make room for rest, relaxation, play, and creativity as it is all essential for peak performance, and you cannot hide from burnout. The world and business are moving at a very rapid pace. To keep up with the growing demands and volatility of business, we need to be healthy. The individuals must practice self-care. The teams should have healthy relationships that support openness, fairness, and equality. Then, the business should have practices that nurture the culture of business wellness. After practicing self-care, we can dedicate our energy to others by participating in team care. We need to be mindful of how we communicate to ensure a healthy work environment for everyone. To have a high-performance team, teams need support from their managers, open communication channels, cooperation among teammates, and equal opportunity for all employees. Teamwork signifies that each member has unique abilities, but it should not inhibit other members from having opportunities to grow professionally. And lastly, companies should. Whether it's professional development, coaching, or training, employees should be encouraged to develop their skills and become better at their jobs while feeling challenged. This leads to job satisfaction. Wellness programs should include activities that develop emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and physical wellness. These programs should take a holistic approach to work and life. If employees feel they are not being heard, they may lose talent. A good listener is a good leader. The self-care triad of self-care, team care, and business care should be considered to prevent burnout. Corporate wellness programs help leaders provide a holistic approach to work and life. Employees must feel like they are heard for the business to thrive. A good listener is a good leader who will lead a healthier and more productive team.
Dr. Tomi Mitchell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Tomi Mitchell, MD, is a leader in the health & wellness industry, known for her advocacy for social issues, including health reform. She believes in the whole person's approach to life and health. Rather than resorting to quick fixes, she gets to the root of problems by taking the time to understand her client's emotional, physical, mental, environmental, financial, spiritual, and social health. She believes these factors affect individuals' behaviors and beliefs about themselves and others. Dr. Tomi Mitchell believes that people feel lost or overwhelmed when there is a loss of balance, so she takes such a holistic approach with each client's situation.
Dr. Tomi Mitchell has appeared in many publications, including but not limited to Thrive Global, Fox, NBC, CBS, Global News, CBS & many other news outlets. She has her own blog & leads two ClubHouse clubs, and has been a guest speaker numerous times.
She is a game-changer, and she gets her clients' results and refuses to compromise her integrity by sugar-coating issues. Using over 10 years as a family practitioner and certified life & health coach, she is able to help her clients create transformational, long-lasting results!
