7 Ways to Manage your Mental Health and Support Patrons
As library staff, you play a vital role in serving the needs of patrons, but it's essential to remember that your own mental health deserves attention and care.
This blog aims to provide you with practical strategies to manage your mental well-being while fulfilling your responsibilities and supporting patrons effectively. By implementing these techniques, you can create a balance between providing excellent service and nurturing your own mental health.
Set Boundaries:
Establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life is crucial. Designate specific times for work-related tasks, and honor your personal time outside of work. Avoid checking work emails or messages during your off hours, and use your free time for activities that rejuvenate and replenish your energy.
I know it’s easier said than done, so start by taking smaller steps to achieve this. Start by leaving work on time every day this week and then incorporate a new boundary. This way you don’t feel overwhelmed with pressure to keep too many boundaries up.
Practice Self-Care:
Self-care is essential for maintaining mental well-being. Make time for activities that you enjoy and that promote relaxation, such as reading, listening to music, practicing mindfulness or meditation, taking walks, or engaging in hobbies.
Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive or big vacations. Although they are nice, start by making a list of the things you enjoy doing or used to enjoy doing. Then pick one from the list and incorporate it into your day. After two weeks re-assess and see if a new self-care activity can be incorporated or if you need to change the one you have.
Build a Support Network:
Connect with colleagues who understand the unique challenges of your profession. Share experiences, concerns, and successes with each other. Cultivating a support network within your workplace can create a sense of camaraderie and provide valuable emotional support.
Your support network can also be outside of work friends, family, or old co-workers. Reach out to at least one or two individuals at least once a month.
Manage Stress:
Working in a busy library environment can be stressful. Identify your stress triggers and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and regular physical exercise can help alleviate stress.
Consider exploring stress-management techniques like yoga, journaling, or engaging in creative outlets. I love using art to manage stress, if this is of interest to you, e-mail me at beatriz@beamindfulcounseling.com - I would love to support you in incorporating art to manage stress.
Foster Work-Life Balance:
Strive for a healthy work-life balance by ensuring that work does not dominate your personal life. Take breaks during your workday to recharge and refocus. Utilize your vacation and personal days to disconnect and recharge completely.
Engage in activities outside of work that bring you joy and fulfillment. A work-life balance is also important to prevent burnout.
Practice Mindfulness:
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment without judgment. Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine by taking short breaks to engage in mindful breathing or focusing your attention on your senses.
Mindfulness can help reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and improve overall mental well-being. Mindfulness doesn’t have to be long hours of meditation, taking the moment to do 5 deep breaths every day while focusing on the present can help.
Seek Professional Support:
If you find yourself struggling with your mental health, don't hesitate to seek professional help. Therapists or counselors can provide guidance and support tailored to your specific needs. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and it can greatly benefit your overall well-being.
As library staff, it's important to prioritize your mental health while providing excellent service to patrons. “You can’t pour from an empty cup” which means that in order to provide services to patrons effectively, you must focus on yourself to make sure that you are taken care of.
