Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for all my friends in public safety. I’d like to talk about the work-life balance and mandatory overtime.
When you work overtime, it’s also imperative to practice self-care.
If you’ve been employed in public safety for any length of time, you’re no stranger to overtime. When you volunteer to work overtime, it’s pretty easy to fit it into your schedule. But when the overtime is mandated, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is more difficult. It’s easy to feel like the job has become your life.
So what can you do when your agency mandates overtime?
First, try to keep work at work. Many of us have had that moment when we get home after a long shift and our significant other reminds us, “You’re not at work anymore.” It can be tough to shut off our work mindset and tune into our personal life. To help with this, take time during your commute home to intentionally transition from work mode to family mode. Stop thinking about work. Start thinking about what you’ll do when you get home.
If mandatory overtime falls during a family event, consider ways you might stay involved from a distance – even if only for a moment. Can you make a quick phone or video call to be part of the festivities, wish them good luck, or get the play-by-play of that baseball game you missed? Try to find creative ways to stay tuned in. This lets your family know that even though you’re not with them, they’re still important to you.
When you work overtime, it’s also imperative to practice self-care. Do what you can to maintain healthy sleep cycles. Eat balanced, whole foods as much as possible. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise four to five times per week. All these things help you stay healthy while working mandatory overtime, so you’re at your best on duty and at home.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
