Hospitality professionals understand what it means to put the organization first, while unconsciously putting themselves on the back burner. They are in charge of managing employees’ performance, creating memorable moments for the guest, and finding ways to motivate and retain their staff. So, the big question is, how do they rejuvenate themselves while dealing with these facets of the business? There are many ways for hospitality professionals to rejuvenate, on and off the job. Dealing with your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health is crucial for optimal performance in the workplace.
Mental health is defined as a state of well-being whereby an individual recognizes their ability to handle challenges and be productive in their daily lives. Not being able to do this
interrupts a person’s professional achievements and goals in the workplace. In order to be refreshed professionally, workers have to be able to identify their personal triggers. Understanding what aspects of your job overwhelms you or may be challenging for you to complete, is a great start to mitigating this problem. Additionally, setting goals supports a good mental health regiment. This can be done by creating a list of SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely). When a person understands the flow of their day, they are better equipped to handle unforeseen obstacles that can interfere with their mental stability. It is also recommended to break up the monotony in your daily routine. This helps to relax the mind and provides a unique element that you’re not used to. This can be as simple as changing your workspace for the day or taking one day out of the week to clear your inbox.
Physical health is also vital for good self-care practices. Keeping your body active allows for proper blood flow throughout the body. At least 15-30 minutes of the day should be for walking around the office or outside of the building complex. This will alleviate stress and fatigue from hours of a sedentary motion. Also, having a healthy diet provides the body with energy for mental sharpness and endurance throughout the day. Preparing meals from home or selecting healthy options at/near the workplace is suggested. Lastly, all persons should get at least eight hours of rest. Getting the appropriate amount of rest promotes memory retention, a stronger immune system, and a reduction of stress related symptoms.
Emotional states in the workplace can change the dynamic of the working day. Your body language as well as your tone of voice are key indicators for revealing your emotional state. One of the ways to combat a poor emotional state is practicing optimism. Once you have implemented shifting your perspective to consciously thinking positive thoughts, you will influence the atmosphere in your organization for the better. It allows for a solution mindset; the organization will shift to thinking about how to solve problems not only for internal customers but external customers as well. Another avenue to better emotional health is, identifying a list of persons that energize you on or off the job. This is not only good for emotional help, but it helps to strengthen and build relationships professionally. Getting a pep talk or having an outlet to vent allows you to move on from a hostile state, while repositioning you into a positive mindset.
Spiritual health offers a system of beliefs, faith, principals, and morals. A healthy spiritual life can foster feelings of compassion, fellowship, and positivity on the job. Cross training or volunteering in other departments bring about an appreciation for other job functions and positions throughout the workplace. Therefore, taking advantage of this will help with promoting a more robust spiritual health. Developing a personal mantra is also a key attribute in spiritual health. A personal mantra is an affirmation to motivate and inspire you to be your best self. By saying this to yourself every day you will soon allow your words to transform you in a positive way. Finally, the last step to spiritual health is meditation. This practice looks at relaxation and reflection on a deeper level. Disconnecting for one hour a day, allows you to unwind from your daily stressors. This can be accomplished by isolating in your office area or a designated space away from your workstation, praying, yoga stretches, or controlled breathing drills.
Even though you are in a career or industry that you are passionate about, there is a chance you can get burned out. The body can fail due to the wear and tear of life; therefore, it is suggested that you put these practices into place to remain at your best. As you begin to do this you will not only be refreshed but you will inspire others to pick up these habits as well.
