{"id":9534,"date":"2021-07-06T10:22:45","date_gmt":"2021-07-06T09:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/?p=9534"},"modified":"2021-07-06T10:22:47","modified_gmt":"2021-07-06T09:22:47","slug":"w-is-for-wellbeing-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/w-is-for-wellbeing-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"W is for…Wellbeing at work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Burnout. You\u2019ve heard of it, your mildly concerned about it, but how do you stop it happening to you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Wellbeing has been a buzzword for the last couple of years in the world of work, but what how can you tell the difference between a company that\u2019s got it right, and one that\u2019s all talk and no action? How can you protect yourself from burnout? What does wellbeing at work look like? We\u2019re here to answer some of those questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When going to an interview, notice everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s tempting to believe that an interview is exclusively a test of whether you\u2019re good enough. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s true on many levels. I want you to remember that it\u2019s also your chance to test out if this place and culture is a good fit for you too. Notice everything. How do colleagues talk to one another in the reception areas? How are they acting around one another whilst interviewing you? Does it feel genuine or all a little bit put-on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you protect yourself from burnout?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019re in the workplace, it\u2019s tempting to believe you constantly have to prove your worth forever more, even at the expense of your health. This isn\u2019t true. If you\u2019re in a company that believes it is true, be very careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest protection from burnout is another b\u2026 boundaries. These are best placed in from the beginning. Don\u2019t confuse boundaries with being inflexible, but they should be your status quo. So normally, you arrive and leave for the hours you\u2019re paid for. Sometimes you recognise that extra may be required, but for that\u2019s the exception rather than the rule. Don\u2019t be a martyr. As your build your work life, and gain an income after all your studies, help yourself to build a strong and active social life. Join a club or group, try a different activity you\u2019ve not done before, or build a new skill. These things will help grow your confidence, will help you to be intentional with your rest and relaxation time, and will give you lots to talk to your colleagues about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No is a hard word. Especially when it feels like you\u2019re being disobedient, or ungrateful for having the job, but declining an overwhelming workload is important. Manage expectations with completion dates, ask for help with prioritising tasks, and consider conflicting priorities, but ultimately if you\u2019re being given two people\u2019s worth of work to do alone, you have to stop somewhere. Sometimes \u2018not yet\u2019 feels a little easier to say. \u2018Right now, I am unable to take any more on, so I can\u2019t do that yet. But perhaps ask me in a week\/ month and I can look at my workload again and see if I can fit that in\u2019. Don\u2019t make promises, don\u2019t put your future self in a tricky situation, but be open and willing to re-assess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember: you\u2019re entering a world where there\u2019s been a number of culture shifts. I\u2019ve outlined two below. Are there any others you\u2019ve felt? Feel free to add them to the comments at the bottom of this blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Perfectionism. It\u2019s tempting to think that \u2018doing your best\u2019 is no longer enough, but you now have \u2018be the best\u2019. This subtle wording difference changes from letting your best within working hours be enough, to a hustle-culture where stepping on other people to get to the top, working ridiculous hours and always being 20 steps ahead is glorified. Stop and smell the flowers \u2013 there\u2019s so much learning to be done in slowing down.<\/li>
  2. Competitiveness. There\u2019s a strong rhetoric about either being a winner, or being a loser \u2013 there\u2019s no in between. This feels mirrored in social media, where people either post on their best or worst days, and rarely in between.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    So, some tips on your wellbeing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Sleep. It improves mood, memory and metabolism. It\u2019s golden. Please make sure you get plenty of it!<\/li>
    2. Remember a career path isn\u2019t necessarily a straight road or simple staircase. Ask some older people around you about their careers, and you\u2019ll learn more about squiggly careers. Don\u2019t be pressured into thinking every step has to be upwards, take your time, and try to follow the things you enjoy.<\/li>
    3. Keep hope. If things are feeling tough now, brighter days are coming! Talk to us as your careers team if you need to \u2013 details are below.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      *some of the information informing this blog is taken from Dr Dominique Thompson\u2019s talk at the HEA Conference June 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Getting further support from The Careers and Enterprise Team at CCCU<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      You can get ongoing careers support via the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n