Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1532010
Don't Isolate: Speak up and speak out While some of us spend time with a work partner for the better part of the day, many of us are a reclusive bunch of introverts who find joy in solitude with minimal contact with other humans. As an ambivert, I know all too well the joy of connecting with my friends, family, and colleagues, but I'm also looking for the exits when my social battery runs anywhere beneath a 20% charge. Finding my balance was a challenge. I believe that one of the main things that kept us going this past year was staying connected. While I've spoken with a handful of you almost daily via text, FaceTime, or email, it was more than the virtual and public events that helped me stay focused and locked-in. It was a need to vent and share my feelings every so often, and I'm honored that some of you felt safe to share some of your issues with me. Naturally, I wasn't always the glorious ray of sunshine that folks have grown to know and love. There were days when I isolated myself, either because I couldn't find anyone to talk to or because I simply wanted to be left alone to wallow and feel sorry for myself, asking such questions as, "When is my career going to really take off?" "Why did my uncles have to die?" and, even deeper, "Why am I even here?" As you can see from that last question, things can get dark pretty quickly, especially when you don't reach out. Having said that, it's important to connect with health professionals if thoughts of harming yourself or others persist in your mind. Seeing a therapist was something I avoided for years until it literally began hurting to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself. If you're concerned about cost, check out resources like sondermind.com (Note: I have no affiliation with them and am just sharing knowledge), as they can guide you toward the best therapists who take health insurance. And if a therapist is not a viable option, connect with the next best thing; a family member or friend who has mastered the art of just listening so you can speak your truth. Get Up and Out: Long walks and standing desks This can be a touchy subject, especially for my colleagues who work on major mix stages on big projects with big budgets. While I'm not a part of that scene, I know for a fact that it's YOUR job to take good care of yourself, whether your company lives that standing desk life or they're all about cubicles. One of my mentors and professors back in audio school stressed the art of taking frequent breaks. I call it an art because some of us are naturally good at it, while others need to be trained to do so. Be warned, though; your body will eventually come at you to collect on poor health choices like choosing to remain sedentary, snacking instead of eating good meals, and my personal favorite, not sleeping optimally or at the right time(s). If the pandemic taught us anything, it definitely illustrated that health comes first. Shout-outs to all the companies that have since shifted their full energy away from the bottom line and re-directed some of that energy toward those who secure that bottom line. If your human resources department has yet to emphasize the importance of the health of their employees, maybe it's time for you to educate them or find yourself a new gig that leads with the health of their workers. If you are part of a union, hopefully, there are provisions for breaks where you can take a breather and reset. While this is easier said than done, it doesn't make it any less real that our lifestyle(s) can literally kill us. Fortunately, I have had no major health complications this year, but I've heard stories of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and other dangerous biological occurrences that should be taken very seriously. It's also not as obvious, but it's also very clear to me that stress can be a total catalyst toward the aforementioned health issues. Be real with yourself. Don't toss out the red meat and snacks cold turkey (unless your doctor orders you to do so), but gradually lower the faders directly linked to the health issues you may be facing. Bring that obnoxious yoga ball to work and try sitting on it or a similar ergonomic trainer that will, in some ways, help parts of your body (like the muscles in your back and legs) remain strong and flexible. The feeling you get when you get up from your chair after having sat down for hours at a time is, as the young people in my house say, NOT Sigma (not "cool" for us Xers and Boomers).