As someone who promotes boundary-setting as an essential element of self care, I am pleased to see that August is National Wellness Month, and I’ll be posting about wellness during its span.
What healthy habits drive your library work?
Opting out of gossip?
Avoiding dramatic situations?
Taking all your federally-mandated breaks–including two 15-minute breaks and an hour lunch break?
As a trauma-informed and/or trauma-responsive library worker, modeling wellness in the workplace may be within your wheelhouse.
Wellness includes work/life balance. That slash [/] between the two words is a powerful symbol of separation. Of boundaries. Affirming and embodying that separation can be tough. My tendency to ruminate over past and present and future work happenings in the evenings and weekends at home robs me of my precious free-time and also makes focusing on my family challenging.
A few weeks ago I responded to an email late on a Friday night, after our traditional workday ended. I included a statement about the uncommon late email, and for others to respect their work boundaries and not feel pressured to read or respond to any email outside of their paid work time.
Rebecca Tolley 