We all are greatly shocked with the news of comedian Chokoleit’s passing. According to Inquirer.net, he died shortly after a performance with other entertainers in Abra. His colleagues in show business have since mourned his loss.
On social media, video of his last performance is circulating. It’s obvious from the clip that he was having a hard time breathing. On Twitter, Paulo Avelino wrote, “He made sure he finished his show and made everyone happy. A performer, comedian, singer and professional till the end.”
That kind of sentiment is not new. Seeing someone so hardworking, to the point of him sacrificing even his own needs, has always been deemed as noble and admirable. But that belief could be harmful. We do admire Chokoleit’s work ethics and see it as a testament of his passion for his work. But the news comes as an eye-opener too. At the end of the day, people’s wellbeing must be held in higher significance than their jobs. In the Philippines, self-care is a luxury to most. Most of the people here have to literally work their backs off for a living. But even though time and resources don’t allow most to practice the kind of self-care we all ideally want, here are little things we can do at least.
Reset your mindset
For Type A personalities especially, the feeling of dialing down may be harder. You have already conditioned yourself to be entirely dedicated to whatever work or project, and that usually means prioritizing that over everything else. Understandably, that can get toxic pretty fast. The first step to change is to adjust your mindset about it. Rather than thinking of self-care as a form of diversion from your work, think of it as an investment you need. In the long run, having great health will help you work faster and more efficiently.
Make time for yourself
One misconception people have about me-time is that it should only be done only when you’re burnt out or close to it. Alexia Brue, co-founder and CEO of Well+Good, told Forbes, “Self-care is simply every day, healthy rituals that keep your body and mind energized.” It could be as simple as taking brisk walks after work, or reading while on commute. “It’s finding whatever recharges you, and then incorporating it as a ritual into your life,” she said.
Take a break
No, I’m not saying you should a vacation leave. A study has shown that even brief diversions from a task can dramatically improve your ability to focus on that task for prolonged periods. Alexia further shares that “Even five minutes of mediation can be grounding and give you energy. You can book a conference room or find a phone booth and sneak away for a few moments to put on a meditation app.”
Exercise
Not everyone has time for a full workout, but that shouldn’t be an excuse. Exercise isn’t solely limited on the gym. Take whatever opportunity you can, like walking up one flight of stairs or brisk walking on your way home or to your office. To those who have desk job, it’s important to switch positions throughout the day instead of remaining sedentary in your desks. Huffington Post stresses that “The trick is to get moving and to find non-time consuming ways to incorporate exercise into your day.”
Don’t skip meals
I know this is hard to do. Even I am guilty of skipping meals, especially when I’m cramming to meet deadlines. But I am planning to break the bad habit. Sure, you save a few minutes, but what you don’t realize is that it takes a great toll on your body. “When we skip meals we tend to crash and are nine times out of 10 more likely to grab an unhealthy snack, like soda, coffee, a candy bar, or donut because it is fast and easy,” Huffington Post pointed out.
Get enough sleep
This is another basic knowledge which most fail to adhere to. Everyone’s individual sleep needs actually vary but the optimal amount of sleep for adults is seven to nine hours. When life gets hectic, the first thing we often sacrifice is sleep, and most think it’s worth it. But according to the National Sleep Foundation, “It’s important to remember that even modest amounts of sleep loss can accumulate over time so that a few nights of poor sleep can have a major impact on daily functioning.”
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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