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martha brook blog post 15 simple ways to practice self-care at work
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15 simple ways to practice self-care at work

Published 1 month ago. Estimated reading time: 11 minutes.

Oct 9

This Thursday it’s World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is how to avoid burnout at work. Did you know an average person spends 90,000 hours at work during their lifetime?! And that’s not including the commute! Work can be tiring, no matter if you work 9-5 or are on shifts, so finding ways to take care of yourself and practice self-care at work is super important.

We’ve done the hard work for you and come up with 15 simple ways to practice self-care at work plus a free download too that you can share with friends and family who could do with some inspiration to take care of themselves during their working week.

15 simple ways to practice self-care at work

1. Create an inspiring environment

martha brook blog post 15 simple ways to look after yourself at work martha's home office

First up on our list of ways to practice self-care at work is creating an inviting and inspiring environment that makes you feel good. From photos of your family and friends that make you smile to stylish desk accessories that brighten your desk, add feel-good touches that not only make your workspace a pleasure to be in but also sparks your imagination too.

2. Get comfortable

Looking after yourself at work isn’t just about your mental health, but your physical health too! Some of the best work you’ll do is when you’re comfortable and ready to tackle the task ahead, so if you have a desk-based job, make sure you have a proper ergonomic chair to avoid any discomfort and distraction during the day. A mood booster and productivity driver, being comfortable at work by having a proper chair is one of the best ways to practice self-care!

3. Take regular breaks

martha brook blog post 15 simple ways to look after yourself at work take a break at work

Next up on our list of simple ways to practice self-care at work is by taking regular breaks. We’ve all been guilty of staring at our screens for far too long or taking shorter breaks than we should to get a task finished but it’s super important to change up your scenery, stretch those legs and get some fresh air, even if just for a few minutes. Taking regular breaks has been proven to reduce stress and make you more focused throughout the day so don’t forget to take them when you can.

4. Welcome the outside in

Because plants just make everything better! It’s widely known that the colour green has a calming and relaxing effect on the mind so it makes sense that adding some pretty potted plants to your workspace will help to improve your mood at work. Not only that, certain plants can also purify the air making them a great addition to any workspace where feasible and the unkillable range from Beards & Daisies is a must for the lesser green-fingered folk (guilty!). Plants have so many amazing but unexpected benefits, which you can read more on here.  

5. Treat yourself to some nice stationery

martha brook blog post 15 simple ways to practice self-care at work martha brook

We might be ever so slightly biased, but we’re big believers that stationery is so good for the soul! And we’re not talking about the hum-drum office supplies either, we’re talking about the beautiful kind of stationery that not only helps you start every day afresh but also prompts you to look after yourself too. Take it from us…it’ll make going into the office each morning that little bit more delightful and make your daily planning a total pleasure.

Here’s some of our favourite Martha Brook must-haves for any desk…

  • martha brook personalised productive daily planner desk pad on desk with vegan leather pencil case and notebooks

    Productive Daily Planner Desk Pad

    £7.95
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  • martha brook personalised stationery desk accessories pastel scalloped pen pot mint green light lilac peachy pink

    Pastel Scalloped Pen Pot

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  • Personalised Vegan Leather Embossed Pencil Case

    Personalised Vegan Leather Embossed Pencil Case

    £19.95
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  • martha brook make it happen life planner

    Personalised Make It Happen Life Planner

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6. Stock healthy snacks

Next up on our list of ways you can practice self-care at work is by having some healthy snacks by your side for when hunger strikes. It can improve your concentration in between breakfast and lunch and makes you feel good for eating good too. Here’s where we’ll contradict ourselves a little but hear us out! That isn’t to say a sweet treat, like a chocolate biscuit with a cup of tea is the worst. In fact, a favourite sweet treat can go a really long way on a bad day when it comes to giving your mood a little boost. Like all naughty but nice things, they’re best had in moderation and should feel a treat!

7. Stay hydrated

martha brook blog post 15 simple ways to look after yourself at work frank green pink reusable water bottle

Next up on our list of ways to practice self-care at work is by staying nice and hydrated. Investing in a nice water reusable bottle, like these lovely ones from Frank Green, is a great way to remind yourself to keep up your water intake especially on busy days where it can be easy to forget. Being hydrated can improve your mood, making you feel less anxious and also give your metabolism a boost to help turn your nutritious lunch into energy for the afternoon. Win, win!

8. Set boundaries and say no

At work, try to set boundaries and get comfortable with saying no. If you find you’re taking on too much and are feeling overwhelmed, stressed and anxious with your workload, be honest with your manager about your time and delegate tasks where possible. There are only so many hours in a working day and as one person, you can only do so much so, take your foot off the gas, communicate clearly and be honest about what you can manage with your time. Repeat after us; “It’s not bad to say no!”

9. Write a to-do list

martha brook blog post 15 simple ways to practice self-care at work write a to do list

Sometimes our brains can get very buzzy with all the things we need to do that day, but dumping it down on paper is a great way to turn those feelings of forgetfulness and anxiety into feelings of productivity and relief. Not only will you be able to see a clear schedule of your day ahead and what you need to achieve, you’ll also get that lovely little dopamine hit each time you tick off a task completed. But remember to try and not add too much to you to-do list. Each of our own desk pads have been designed to guide you to set clear priorities, with a maximum of three to five a day so you aren’t taking on too many tasks!

If you’re looking for a daily to-do list, check out a few of our favourites here!

  • martha brook personalised stationery checkered daily desk pad

    Checkered Daily Planner Desk Pad

    £7.95
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  • Self-Care Daily Planner Desk Pad

    Self-Care Daily Planner Desk Pad

    £7.95
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  • New Goals Weekly Planner Desk Pad

    New Goals Weekly Planner Desk Pad

    £10.95
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  • 'Happiness' Daily To Do Planner Pad

    Happiness Daily To Do Planner Desk Pad

    £7.95
    View Product Add to wishlist

10. Prioritise rest

Everyone needs a break! One of the best ways you can practice self-care at work is by prioritising rest and giving yourself something to look forward to. It can be easy to forget to use that annual leave or those holiday days on rest and recovery, (ahem, we’re looking at you wedding season) so make sure you set aside some self-care time for yourself. Whether that’s a day in a bookshop – the dream – or a night away at a spa, taking some time for you means you can go back to work feeling fully reset and recharged.

11. Limit your technology

There are a few ways you can limit your technology that will really help take care of yourself at work. Perhaps you’re feeling anxious and a little snowed under? Block out a day in your calendar to play catch-up and turn off all non-urgent notifications. Pop your phone on to ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode to have some uninterrupted head down time. By doing this, it’ll help you to feel less anxious and stressed and more focussed on the day ahead of you. You’ve got this!

12. Keep a daily journal

martha brook blog post 15 simple ways to practice self care at work martha brook time to take care wellness journal

From being a cathartic release and a much-needed boost for your well-being, keeping a daily journal is one of the best ways you can practice self-care at work! A place where you can write freely, keeping a daily journal can help reduce feelings of anxiety, reduce negative thoughts and improves your happiness, positivity and outlook. Naturally, we’re big cheerleaders for journaling and think putting pen to paper is a sure-fire way to take care of yourself.

13. Be kind to yourself

Next up on our list of the best ways to practice self-care at work is simple – being kind to yourself. Everyday isn’t going to better than the last, and if you’ve found you’ve had a day where maybe you’ve just not been able to get the wheels in motion, that’s absolutely fine. Growth isn’t linear and everyone experiences peaks and troughs throughout the week, so punishing yourself with negative words is only going to do further damage. Be kind to yourself, speak kindly as if you were talking to a friend and think of positive affirmations so you can move forward in a way that feels positive, not negative. Remember, tomorrow is a new day!

14. Create a wind-down routine

martha brook blog post 15 simple ways to practise self-care at work phone setting boundaries

Establishing a strong work/life balance can be so very tricky and let’s be honest, leaving work on time isn’t always possible! There are some days where you’ll find yourself logging on early or staying a little bit later, and that’s okay! But, those days should be a one-off exception, not the rule.  As we mentioned earlier, we’re at work for A LOT of our lives, so creating a wind-down routine that’ll help you strike a better balance is really important for your mental health. Try leaving work on time as much as possible, turning your work phone off as soon as you leave the office, and turning any work notifications on any other devices off until the following morning.

15. Speak to someone

And last on our list of simple ways to practice self-care at work is by simply reaching out to someone you can trust. Find someone at work you can confide in and have a chat if you find you’re struggling or having a difficult time at the moment. They might suggest other ways you can look after yourself, and also will think of ways they can look out for you too.


Free download

If you want to download and print our ways to practice self-care at work, you can do so here!

We hope this list of simple ways to practice self-care at work encourages you to take good care of yourself day to day, no matter what you do for a living!

P.S. Discover our Wellness Journal, designed to give you a daily dose of self-care and features prompted spreads designed to develop daily habits that make you feel like the best version of yourself.

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