A Survival Guide for Sensitive Types at Work.
A short list for self-care in work environments:
My struggles with sensitivity have often affected my ability to work: how I work, who I work with, and what I can do for work. It has felt limiting, to say the least.
I’ve had to learn, step by step, how to work with my sensitivity, not against it. How to nurture it, value it, and ultimately treasure it—even when it’s a challenge and feels like it’s holding me back. I’m different. I work differently, and as a result, my work is different than the rest of the world. I now understand this is something to celebrate!
If you’ve been following my recent posts about being highly sensitive, you know that I’m passionate about offering you resources for taking care of yourself, working with your sensitivity, not against it, and realizing the gift that is your sensitivity.
I believe that your sensitivity will lead you to your gifts, your dharmic purpose—but I’ll be sharing more about that in the coming days.
You already know that you have to treat yourself differently than the majority of the population. You have to eat differently, rest more, take care of your body more consciously. You probably already know that you need more alone time and that you may get frazzled more easily than others.
These are important considerations to be aware of for your daily life, but also for your work situations. My Survival Guide is below—a short list for self care in work environments.
Here’s how to thrive at work when you’re extra sensitive:
1. Healthy Boundaries:
If you’re familiar with my work at all, you know that I speak about healthy boundaries rigorously. Healthy boundaries are different for everyone. But for sensitive types, boundaries are even more vital for well being. Boundaries keep in what nourishes, and keep out what is harmful and draining. Boundaries are a constant dance; I consider boundary work an ongoing process.
But as we become more aware of our personal needs, what nourishes and what does not, boundaries become clearer and more accessible. The first step for healthy boundaries is the 3 Level Check In. It’s an ideal tool for helping you clearly identify what is happening within your body, mind and emotions. You can’t know what you need until you have a relationship with the felt senses.
2. Trust your differences:
You are one of the “gifted and talented” as I call us: a select group of individuals who has high sensitivity, who require extra TLC, yet we are likely gifted with immense depth, awareness and experiences that might as well be an honorary title.
Just because our culture doesn’t honor sensitivity as a trait worth having, or a trait that is valued in our fast paced aggressive culture, doesn’t mean that you aren’t a valuable asset to your world, to your team, to your company or business. Play up your differences and start to honor them as the brilliance that makes you special.
3. Take Ample Pauses:
Whether it’s a fresh air break or a pause to breathe from your desk on the hour, it’s vital that you step away, pause, or get up and move consistently and regularly. I suggest hourly pauses. Use the restroom, walk to a window, get some water. Get up from your chair, away from your computer, change your task.
When you return, a fresh perspective, a new clarity, will be available to you. Make sure breath awareness is part of this “pause” and maybe a 3 Level Check In for extra good measure!
4. Take Alone Time:
Though many sensitive types are extroverted by nature, the grande majority of us tend towards introversion- or at least we require longer bouts of alone time. Honor this and do as many projects alone as you can. If you have to do group work, see if tasks can be broken into individual projects that can be tackled away from the group. If your work requires constant socialization, take breaks as often as possible.
Create a ritual in order to check in with yourself. I often go to the restroom for a moment of quiet and alone. Washing hands can be another ritual that can help you re-center. The water clears energy and if you’ve been touching a lot of people with your hands, a little soap and water can feel re-energizing.
Make sure your schedule includes solid days where you can be quiet and inward- especially if the majority of your work requires a lot of external focus and extroversion. You need these days to recharge. Take them.
5. Do What You Love:
This is especially important if you are not working in an environment or a job that fulfills you. It is essential to use all your spare time doing activities that bring you joy, recharge your batteries and inspire you. Get creative at home or perhaps take a new workshop.
Walk in the woods, write poetry, dance, draw, journal, play with your animal companions, cook nourishing foods, do yoga. Whatever it is, fill your non-work moments with these types of self care joy! You not only deserve it, you require it for your well being. Consider this to be your part time job- or full time job! Do what you love; your life depends on it!
6. Less is More:
If over-stimulation is an issue for you, then you will especially want to pay attention to keeping life, activities and relationships as under-stimulating as possible. Instead of thinking that there’s something wrong with your life because it’s not big, exciting and always moving, consider your needs for comfort, safety and security as your number one priority.
Less can be more for highly sensitive types. We tend to need much less stimulation for our well being and need to keep our lives simple, as well as our relationships, in order to increase a sense of security and nourishment. Are you piling your plate too high and forcing yourself to comply? Only do the essentials in each day, then let self care be your number one priority.
7. Quality Not Quantity:
Humans are communal creatures. And even though as a sensitive type, we tend to need more alone time, we still need quality connection to be healthy and well rounded. The type and quantity of connection we need will vary from person to person, but I suggest adding quality and meaningful connection to your self care regimen.
Stay out of frivolity in your relationships—both personal and professional. Gossip and talking about people will not be fulfilling, it will be a drain of energy in the long run.
Find people that you can talk about ideas and dreams with. If they can converse on those levels, they’re likely worth keeping around. If the group dynamics at work seem to always fall into petty surface chit chat, be the one who provokes more intelligent conversation. Speak about books, movies, culture, activities and projects you are working on etc. Be the uplifter and keep it positive.
8. Do the Obvious:
Make sure you are eating well and eat your meals at regular times. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch should be your main meal of the day, so make it count and have it be relaxed. Keep a good schedule—one that is more in tune with Nature. Get plenty of sleep—eight hours is ideal, but some sensitive types actually need more. Exercise daily. Move your body, move your breath, every day!
Life will improve with this one tip alone! Have you had a massage lately? An acupuncture tune up? Seen your chiropractor? Consulted with an Ayurvedic doctor? Call in support when you need some extra TLC.
9. Don’t Take It On:
This is another boundary reminder. Don’t take on what is not yours. Don’t be a therapist, coach, parent, healer or self help guru for anyone and everyone. Don’t try to fix others or be the savior. Don’t even think about fixing others.
It’s not your job (unless it is your job, and then it’s only your job during certain hours of the day. And healthy boundaries will be extra important for you!) Let go of any attachments you have to “make others feel better.”
They are right where they are, just like you are right where you are. Your sensitivity doesn’t need to be 24/7 empathy. Learn to create healthy energetic boundaries and tend to you own needs. This is ultimately the most compassionate use of your energy.
10. Contain Yourself:
Since sensitive types tend to feel more, we tend to have more to feel, and deeper experiences as a result. This can mean that we are more expressive, or less expressive (we bottle it up inside). There’s a risk of sharing too much, too little, or sharing our feelings inappropriately. (Displaced aggression? Crying for “no reason”? Withdrawing or self isolating?)
This is why we as sensitive types must be working directly with our 3 Levels of Awareness, to navigate what we are feeling and what our needs are. When we can identify our needs, we have a better chance of doing something that will be helpful for ourselves.
We also don’t get to take out our sensitivity on others and we need to be able to self care when we are having an extra rough day—which may be more often than others.
Make sure you are attending to the previous suggestions especially on these days.
And don’t forget to communicate with others that you are having is a particularly challenging day. They will likely appreciate the communication more than withdrawal or lack of communication—even if they don’t fully understand the reason.
Be sure you have ongoing support for yourself. I suggest a trustworthy therapist, counselor or coach for helping you work through your emotional challenges, getting your needs met in healthy ways and finding new resources for yourself. This relationship can often be the missing level of support in our lives and can take the burden off our other relationships.
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