Despite being incredibly common, high levels of stress are far from healthy. They can ultimately misalign the balance and boundaries we seek to implement in our lives throughout the rest of the year. Balance is not found in the moments when we speed through our morning rituals, skip breakfast, grab whatever is close to the door and race off to work. Nor is it found in the moments when we allow others’ needs to supersede our own.
Protecting Your Mental Health While Balancing Work, Home and Family
In our attempt to be productive employees, we often work longer than necessary hours, drink cup after cup of coffee, and skip lunch (or eat it at lightning speed). We succumb to the pressures of our deadlines, only to come home and start working again. Eventually, all this rushing catches up to us and, as stress weakens our immune systems, we get sick.
When your life is ruled by responsibilities at work, home, or for extra projects, when do you have time for yourself? Or time to attend a therapy session, let alone pursue mental wellness or the addiction treatment you need? Neglecting yourself in these cases is not unusual because of environmental stressors in your day-to-day life.
At Promises Behavioral Health, we recognize that addiction and mental illness can affect your professional and family dynamics, and these are big barriers to getting the help you need. For this reason, we offer family therapy and lessons in establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries for yourself and the other commitments in your life.
Boundaries for Work, Family, and Friends
Being in treatment and going through recovery is not only something you do for yourself but also those around you. During this time, relationships may seem strained, but the truth is that they also require attention and time to heal. The time for healing in these relationships will come, but the work of early recovery needs to focus on your individual progress.
Boundaries establish limitations to protect your physical and mental well-being. Again, this may feel selfish or self-indulgent. Really though, boundaries allow you to focus on yourself and your health, effective communication and put your mind at ease, all of which will positively influence your treatment and recovery. To assist in your boundary creation or maintenance, before, during or after treatment, we have compiled a list of some important boundaries to consider implementing, especially this time of year.
At Home
- Unplug your phone. This will help you sleep better
- Put together a support system
- Family, friends, coworkers, etc.
- Take care of your body
- Create and uphold a hygiene and sleep schedule, eat meals at a slower pace, take a walk
At Work
- Establish and maintain boundaries
- Set manageable daily goals
- Take breaks throughout the day
- Communicate your needs to coworkers, employees and employers
With Your Time
- Make plans and schedule events in advance rather than waiting until the last minute to get together
- Prioritize activities that energize you
- If you don’t want to go out, remember that it is okay to say “no”
Remember: through treatment, recovery is possible. You are not alone in this. Healthy and supportive relationships are possible. You can maintain your mental health while experiencing life’s stressors.
We understand how overwhelming this transitional period can be and want to help. If you or someone else is looking for holistic treatment opportunities that consider all aspects of your life and community, don’t hesitate to call us today at 844-644-6665, or contact us on our website.
