There’s no doubt that if you’re a professional, you’ve experienced a level of stress at some point in your career. It can be distracting and impact your productivity. That stress could even spill over into your life at home. However, remembering to practice self-care — even in the office — can be an effective way to regain your motivation and joy in the work that you do.

Delegate Tasks Effectively

If you work with a team of co-workers or if you’re the leader in your department, don’t hesitate to delegate tasks to your supporting members. For some people, it can be a challenge to ask for help. Some professionals may even feel awkward, giving others a job to do. However, if you pile up all these duties, you may find yourself overwhelmed and stressed. Effective delegation is the ideal way to keep things organized throughout your workday. You can consider it a practice in self-care because you’ll be placing a higher value on your time and the way you spend your energy. You were hired for a purpose, and you won’t be able to fulfill it if you’re exhausted and depleted.

Find Ways to Stay Active

Staying active is a great way to increase your energy and maintain a positive attitude. If you work in an office setting, sitting in a chair for several hours at a time could leave you feeling stiff, sore, and even unmotivated. Consider adding an activity schedule to your day. You can start by setting an alarm on your phone that reminds you to stand up and stretch. You could even use that time to get up and take a walk around the building. Many professionals use standing desks that allow them to elevate their work so that they can complete it from a standing position. This allows for better circulation through the body. It will also allow you to stretch your legs while maintaining productivity.

Incorporate Team Building

Workplace wellness is about more than just being productive in the office. Sometimes getting out of the office and participating in team-building exercises is a great way to boost morale and encourage more collaboration and communication among co-workers. Consider planning a relaxing nature walk or something more active, like laser tag. These activities are great for breaking up your daily routine and disrupting the monotony of the 40-hour workweek.

Take Advantage of PTO

There’s a reason paid time off is considered part of your benefits package. Your employers expect you to take advantage of this time. Therefore, don’t feel bad about leaving work on your desk and your co-workers in the office when you use this time. Having the opportunity to decompress and spend time doing other things that you enjoy is incredibly important to your self-care routine. Take another look at the explanation of your benefits package so that you’ll know how many paid days off you get. For some companies, those days may carry over to the following year; however, this isn’t always the case.

Propose and Initiate a Wellness Program

Consider taking some initiative and planning a wellness program for your office. It’s a way to encourage self-care throughout the office to ensure that you can work in an atmosphere where everyone is prioritizing their mental and physical health. Propose fitness challenges where the person that walks or bikes the most miles in a month gets a prize. It could also include a healthy potluck. Suggest other methods of self-care to your co-workers, like massages, acupuncture, or even meditation, which can be done as a group.