How does our experience shape our work?
Our mental health can have an effect on how we show up in our life. For example, when we’re experiencing higher levels of stress at our job or school, we may find ourselves avoiding responsibilities up until the last minute. Additionally, things that might be going on in our personal life may impact what we choose to, or can, take on at work and school. Paying attention to changes in how we’re attending to our responsibilities can provide insight into what’s happening for us.
How do I pick up on what’s happening for me?
Sometimes, it’s not easy to pick up on the different signs that we aren’t feeling or doing well. When it comes to work and productivity, receiving praise or a sense of achievement can make it hard to recognize that even though we’re doing good work, we might not be feeling our best. Here are some ways to check in with yourself to try & pick up on signs of performance-related stress:
Internally, you may feel:
Lower motivation to do things outside of your main responsibilities
Imposter syndrome and fear that you won’t be good enough for your role if you make the changes you’re needing to feel better.
More difficulty when setting boundaries
Extreme or lack of pressure to meet deadlines
Externally, you may:
Find yourself prioritizing other’s emotions and experiences before your own
Put on a mask to give others the perception that everything is going smoothly
Overcorrect when missing a deadline or responsibility
Sign up for more clubs, take on more tasks at work, or take on a larger workload
What can I do?
Appreciate your feelings, don’t suppress them
Your reactions and feelings can give insight into what might be affecting you. Viewing emotions as an opportunity to learn about yourself can help you respond to and manage situations in a way that feels more aligned with you.
Allow yourself to feel
Creating space to honor your feelings and feel them in their full capacity is a way to validate your experience and recognize it as true. Practice different ways to give yourself the appropriate time and space to confront what you are experiencing and determine if you need to take time away to feel better. Embracing those feelings can help you understand how different experiences and emotions impact you, and can help you check in with yourself in the future.
Seek realignment
When you recognize that you’re showing up differently than how you are actually feeling, take a moment to think about why this is happening. While it can feel new and vulnerable, try practicing showing up authentically with people you trust. This can be one small, but important way to honor what you’re feeling and communicate it to others. If you are not in a space where you can practice this, try jotting down what you are feeling in your notes app, journal, or on a sticky note. Finding moments to check in with yourself or others can make it easier to show up authentically.
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