It’s officially another season of countless changes as more and more people are heading back to their workplaces. This period of unpredictability, called the “now normal”, has made it more challenging to achieve a balance between work and personal life—if it exists at all.
So, paano ba ‘to? In Bianca Gonzalez’s podcast, we learn the basics of self-care from full-time physician and mental health advocate, Dr. Gia Sison. In the episode, they give tips that can help us own each day, take charge, and be at our best.
Let go of things you cannot control
After carefully and meticulously curating our spaces at home, it’s easy to be stressed by the chaos of the outside world. The change in environment can be jarring, but Doc Gia offers some advice, “Name one thing that you can control and hold onto that.” Shifting your focus on these things can help you save your energy for things that truly matter.
Set healthy boundaries
One of the downsides of the pandemic is the blurring of the line between work and home life. We had to lead multi-hyphenate lifestyles, and this negatively impacted our ability to focus on one thing at a time. “Simply saying ‘I can’t do this, and I do not need to justify that,’ is a powerful way to set solid, healthy boundaries,” shares Doc Gia.
“Sabi nga ni Paulo Coelho, ‘Make sure that when you’re saying yes to others, you’re not saying no to yourself.’ That is also self-care,” she further explains.
Listen to your body
We live in a world where we are encouraged to give more than 100% of ourselves to work, but this can lead to burnout. “Resting is a strength. Realizing that you are tired and being honest about it is powerful,” Doc Gia says.
When we fail to rest, being tired can quickly turn into being sick, and this can derail our plans for the day. According to Doc Gia, the most common illnesses to watch out for are respiratory tract infections, “Andyan ‘yung inuubo ka, ‘yung flu, COVID, cold, sinusitis… with that, sometimes kasama ‘yung sipon.”
When cold and sinusitis symptoms start to get in the way of powering through your day, take medicine that can provide powerful relief, just like Phenylpropanolamine HCl Chlorphenamine Maleate Paracetamol (Decolgen® Forte).
The same goes for mental health, “Don’t wait for the time na ‘di ka na makabangon. There are some things that you cannot figure out by yourself… Talk to someone, and they can help you see from another perspective. That’s the magic of asking for help,”
Doc Gia explains.
The truth is: work-life balance is not a 50-50 deal. There’s no secret hack that can help us efficiently divide our lives into perfect halves for career and personal life. What it is is a delicate juggling act that involves letting go, setting boundaries, listening to your body, and seeking help when things get overwhelming. This sort of daily self-care and conscious decision-making can help us dominate challenges, and be our best selves–no matter what role we take on.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
