Saraswati Dharma Coaching
  • Home
  • About Swati
  • Dharma Blog
  • Why Jyotish Astrology?
  • Privacy Policy

The Sensitive Person's Survival Guide- for Work

9/29/2014

0 Comments

 
The Survival Guide for Sensitive People:
A Short List for Self Care In Work Environments


My struggles with sensitivity have effected my ability to work. How I work, who I work with, and what I can do for work. It has felt limiting to say the least.

I've had to learn- step by step- how to work with my sensitivity, not against it. How to nurture it, value it, and ultimately treasure it- even when it's a challenge and feels like it's holding me back. I'm different, I work differently, and as a result, my work is different than the rest of the world. I now understand this is something to celebrate!

If you've been following my recent posts about being highly sensitive, you know that I'm passionate about offering you resources for taking care of yourself, working with your sensitivity, not against it, and realizing the gift that is your sensitivity. I believe that your sensitivity will lead you to your gifts, your dharmic purpose- but I'll be sharing more about that in the coming days.

You already know that you have to treat yourself differently than the majority of the population. You have to eat differently, rest more, take care of your body more consciously. You probably already know that you need more alone time and that you may get frazzled more easily than others. These are very important considerations to be aware of for your daily life, but also for your work situations.

My Survival Guide is below- a short list for self care in work environments, essentially.

Here's how to thrive at work when you're extra sensitive:


1. Healthy Boundaries: If you're familiar with my work at all, you know that I speak about healthy boundaries rigorously. Healthy boundaries are different for everyone. But for sensitive types, boundaries are even more vital for well being. Boundaries keep in what nourishes, and keep out what is harmful and draining. Boundaries are a constant dance; I consider boundary work an ongoing process. But as we become more aware of our personal needs, what nourishes and what does not, boundaries become clearer and more accessible. The first step for healthy boundaries is the 3 Level Check In. It's an ideal tool for helping you clearly identify what is happening within your body, mind and emotions. You can't know what you need until you have a relationship with the felt senses.

2. Trust your differences: You are one of the "gifted and talented" as I call us. A select group of individuals who has high sensitivity, who require extra TLC, yet we are likely gifted with immense depth, awareness and experiences that might as well be an honorary title. Just because our culture doesn't honor sensitivity as a trait worth having, or a trait that is valued in our fast paced aggressive culture, doesn't mean that you aren't a valuable asset to your world, to your team, to your company or business. Play up your differences and start to honor them as the brilliance that makes you special.

3. Take Ample Pauses: Whether it's a fresh air break or a pause to breathe from your desk on the hour, it's vital that you step away, pause, or get up and move consistently and regularly. I suggest hourly pauses. Use the restroom, walk to a window, get some water. Get up from your chair, away from your computer, change your task. When you return, a fresh perspective, a new clarity, will be available to you. Make sure breath awareness is part of this "pause" and maybe a 3 Level Check In for extra good measure!

4. Take Alone Time: Though many sensitive types are extroverted by nature, the grande majority of us tend towards introversion- or at least we require
longer bouts of alone time. Honor this and do as many projects alone as you can. If you have to do group work, see if tasks can be broken into individual projects that can be tackled away from the group. If your work requires constant socialization, take breaks as much as possible.

Create a ritual in order to check in with yourself. I often go to the restroom for a moment of quiet and alone. Washing hands can be another ritual that can help you re-center. The water clears energy and if you've been touching a lot of people with your hands, a little soap and water can feel re-energizing. Make sure your schedule includes solid days where you can be quiet and inward- especially if the majority of your work requires a lot of external focus and extroversion. You need these days to recharge. Take them.

5. Do What You Love: This is especially important if you are not working in an environment or a job that fulfills you. It is essential to use all your spare time doing activities that bring you joy, recharge your batteries and inspire you. Get creative  at home or perhaps take a new workshop. Walk in the woods, write poetry, dance, draw, journal, play with your animal companions, cook nourishing foods, do yoga. Whatever it is, fill your non-work moments with these types of self care joy! You not only deserve it, you require it for your well being. Consider this to be your part time job- or full time job! Do what you love, your life depends on it!

6. Less is More: If over-stimulation is an issue for you, then you will especially want to pay attention to keeping life, activities and relationships as under-stimulating as possible. Instead of thinking that there's something wrong with your life because it's not big, exciting and always moving, consider your needs for comfort, safety and security as your number one priority. Less can be more for highly sensitive types. We tend to need much less stimulation for our well being and need to keep our lives simple, as well as our relationships, in order to increase a sense of security and nourishment. Are you piling your plate too high and forcing yourself to comply? Only do the essentials in each day, then let self care be your number one priority.

7. Quality Not Quantity: Humans are communal creatures. And even though as a sensitive type, we tend to need  more alone time, we still need quality connection to be healthy and well rounded. The type and quantity of connection we need will vary from person to person, but I suggest adding quality and meaningful connection to your self care regimen. Stay out of frivolity in your relationships- both personal and professional. Gossip and talking about people will not be fulfilling, it will be a drain of energy in the long run. Find people that you can talk about ideas and dreams with. If they can converse on those levels, they're likely worth keeping around. If the group dynamics at work seem to always fall into petty surface chit chat, be the one who provokes more intelligent conversation. Speak about books, movies, culture, activities and projects you are working on etc. Be the uplifter and keep it positive.

8. Do the Obvious: Make sure you are eating well and eat your meals at regular times. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch should be your main meal of the day, so make it count and have it be relaxed. Keep a good schedule- one that is more in tune with Nature. Get plenty of sleep- 8 hours is ideal, but some sensitive types actually need more. Exercise daily. Move your body, move your breath, every day! Life will improve with this one tip alone! Have you had a massage lately? An acupuncture tune up? Seen your chiropractor? Consulted with an Ayurvedic doctor? Call in support when you need some extra TLC.

9. Don't Take It On: This is another boundary reminder. Don't take on what is not yours. Don't be a therapist, coach, parent, healer or self help guru for anyone and everyone. Don't try to fix others or be the savior. Don't even think about fixing others. It's not your job (unless it is your job, and then it's only your job during certain hours of the day. And healthy boundaries will be extra important for you!) Let go of any attachments you have to "make others feel better". They are right where they are, just like you are right where you are. Your sensitivity doesn't need to be 24/7 empathy. Learn to create healthy energetic boundaries and tend to you own needs. This is ultimately the most compassionate use of your energy.

10. Contain Yourself: Since sensitive types tend to feel more, we tend to have more to feel, and deeper experiences as a result. This can mean that we are more expressive, or less expressive (we bottle it up inside). There's a risk of sharing too much, too little, or sharing our feelings inappropriately. (Displaced aggression? Crying for "no reason"? Withdrawing or self isolating?) This is why we as sensitive types must be working directly with our 3 Levels of Awareness, to navigate what we are feeling and what our needs are. When we can identify our needs, we have a better chance of doing something that will be helpful for ourselves.

We also don't get to take out our sensitivity on others and we need to be able to self care when we are having an extra rough day- which may be more often than others. Make sure you are attending to the previous suggestions especially on these days. And don't forget to communicate with others that you are having is a particularly challenging day. They will likely appreciate the communication more than withdrawal or lack of communication- even if they don't fully understand the reason.

Be sure you have ongoing support for yourself. I suggest a trustworthy therapist, counselor or coach for helping you work through your emotional challenges, getting your needs met in healthy ways and finding new resources for yourself. This relationship can often be the missing level of support in our lives and can take the burden off our other relationships.



Helpful Resources for Sensitivity


Are you sensitive? Here's how to tell.

Needing extra tips about being a sensitive person? Find mine here. And use this creative ritual for some extra reminders.

For those of us who are sensitive, a 3 level check in can help us immensely. Find out more about this simple awareness trick.

Struggling to read your own chart? Need some basics? Use my Jyotish Basics MP3 for guidance.


Need some extra guidance and clarity? Schedule a session with me.

Plan your week in tune with nature. Never miss a planetary update. Sign up for my weekly newsletter.

Was this post helpful? Please share it with a friend! Thank you.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    Articles


    Podcasts


    Navaratri: Dancing with the Divine Mothers

    March New Moon Wisdom & Vedic Lunar New Year +
    Creative Ritual

    March Full Moon Wisdom & Holi + Creative Ritual

    Saturn in Sagittarius, Transforming Fear, Awakening Dharma

    Imagine This Is Your Reality

    How to Find Your Soul's
    True Path

    Transit Alert: These Big Changes Are Coming

    Jupiter in Virgo: Expanded Creativity and Self Expression + Horoscopes

    How Grief can Give you
    More Joy

    Healing Grief and Trauma from a Jyotish Perspective

    I'm Horrible At This + 4 Simple Steps to Get Your Needs Met

    Soma In A Cup {Simple Ayurvedic Recipe for Rejuvenation}

    Major Transit Alert! Jupiter Moves to Virgo!

    Why Isn't the Money Flowing?!

    Read Your Jyotish Chart in Five Easy Steps

    Archives

    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All
    3 Level Check In
    4 Level Check In
    4 Level Check-in
    8th-house
    Abhijit
    Adhar
    Adharma
    Aditi
    Aditya
    Agni
    Ahirbudhnya
    Ajaikapada
    Akasha
    Akshaya Tritiya
    Alps
    Amavasya
    Anant Chaturdashi
    Ancestors
    Announcements
    Anuradha
    Apas
    Aquarius
    Arda
    Ardra
    Aries
    Articles
    Art Projects
    Aryaman
    Ashlesha
    Ashtami
    Ashvini Kumara
    Ashvini-kumara
    Ashwini
    Astrology.com
    Asuras
    Asvini Kumara
    Asvini-kumara
    Atma
    Atma Karaka
    Ayurveda
    Baseline Statements
    Be You Media
    Bhaga
    Bhagavati
    Bhakti
    Bharani
    Body Centered Expressive Art Therapy
    Body Parts
    Body Wisdom
    Boundaries
    Brahma
    Breath
    Bright Half
    Brihaspati
    Buddha Jayanti
    Buddhapurnima
    Cancer
    Capricorn
    Celebrations
    Chakras
    Chandra
    Charnel Ground
    Chipatis
    Chitra
    Clients
    Combustion
    Conflict
    Cosmic-and-creative-self
    Courage
    Creative Engagement
    Creative Ritual
    Creativity
    Criticvictimeb701f2c8e
    Dance
    Daria Halprin
    Dark
    Dasami
    Dashami
    Debilitated Mars
    Debilitated Mercury
    Debilitated-mercury
    Debilitated Moon
    Debilitated-saturn
    Debilitated Sun
    Debilitated Venus
    Debilitated-venus
    Debt
    Devas
    Devatas
    Dhanishta
    Dhanvantari
    Dharma
    Divine Feminine
    Diwali
    Durga
    Eclipse
    Eclipse Portal
    EFT
    Elephant Journal
    Embodiment
    Emotional Body
    Emotional Body Literacy
    Empowerment
    Exalted Jupiter
    Exalted Mars
    Exalted Mercury
    Exalted Moon
    Exalted Saturn
    Exalted Sun
    Exalted Venus
    Fall Equinox
    Father
    Feet
    Fire
    First Chakra
    Foot
    Full Moon
    Full Moon In Libra
    Full Moon In Virgo
    Full Moon Wisdom
    Gandanta
    Ganesha
    Ganesha Chaturthi
    Ganga
    Ganga Dashahara
    Gayatri Mantra
    Gemini
    Gifts
    Goals
    Goddess
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Guru
    Guru Purnima
    Gut
    Gutbelly6f2d9eb2da
    Haiku
    Hands And Arms
    Hanuman
    Hanuman-jayanti
    Hasta
    Healing
    Heart Wisdom
    Heyam Dukham Anagatam
    Holi
    Horoscopes
    Houses
    Illusions
    Indra
    Indragni
    Jala
    June Yagyas
    Jupiter
    Jupiter Direct
    Jupiter-in-cancer
    Jupiter-in-cancer
    Jupiter In Gemini
    Jupiter In Leo
    Jupiter In Virgo
    Jupiter Retrograde
    Jyeshta
    Jyestha
    Jyotish Basics
    Kala Sarpa Yoga
    Kali
    Kali Yuga
    Karma
    Kartik Purnima
    Ketu
    Ketu In Pisces
    Kitchari
    Knees
    Krishna
    Krishna Janmashtami
    Krishna Paksha
    Krittika
    Kundalini
    Lagna
    Lakshmi
    Landscape
    Legs
    Leo
    Libra
    Light
    Lord Rama
    Love
    Lunar Eclipse
    Ma
    Magha
    Magic
    Mahishasura
    Makar Sankranti
    Makar-sankranti
    Mandala
    Manifestation
    Mars
    Mars In Aries
    Mars In Cancer
    Mars In Leo
    Mars In Libra
    Mars In Scorpio
    Mars In Virgo
    Mars Retro
    Mask Work
    Mental Body
    Mercury
    Mercury Direct
    Mercury In Aries
    Mercury In Cancer
    Mercury In Capricorn
    Mercury In Gemini
    Mercury In Leo
    Mercury In Libra
    Mercury In Pisces
    Mercury In Sagittarius
    Mercury In Scorpio
    Mercury In Taurus
    Mercury In Virgo
    Mercury Retro
    Mercury Retrograde
    Mercury Saturn Conjunction
    Mitra
    Money
    Moon
    Moon Diagnosis
    Moon In Virgo
    Moon Min
    Moon Mind
    Moon-mind
    Moon Mind Calendar
    Moon Wisdom
    Moon Wisdom Calendar
    Mother Divine
    Mrgashiras
    Mrigashirsha
    Mula
    Naga
    Nakshatra Assessment
    Nakshatras
    Navami
    Navaratri
    Navratri
    Neck
    New Moon
    New Moon Gemini
    New Moon Libra
    New Moon Wisdom
    New Year
    Nirrti
    Nritti
    Ocean Of Milk
    Online-events
    Parashara
    Passion
    Pelvis
    Penumbral Eclipse
    Pisces
    Pitr
    Planetary Transits
    Podcast
    Podcasts
    Poems
    Polarities
    Prajapati
    Prana
    Pujanetc7cedf5218
    Pulse Dance
    Punarvasu
    Purification
    Purnima
    PurvaAshada
    Purvabhadrapada
    Purvaphalguni
    Pushan
    Pushya
    Rahu
    Rahu-in-virgo
    Rahu-in-virgo
    Ram Navami
    Rasi
    Recipes
    Relationships
    Resiliency
    Resources
    Retrogradejupiter
    Retrograde Jupiter
    Retrograde Mars
    Retrograde-mars
    Retrograde Mercury
    Retrogradevenus
    Retrograde Venus
    Retrograde-venus
    Revati
    Ribcage
    Ribcase
    Rohini
    Rsvp
    Rudra
    Saas Fee
    Sagittarius
    Sandhi
    Saraswati
    Sarpa
    Satabhisha
    Satabisha
    Saturn
    Saturn Conjunct Mars
    Saturn In Sagittarius
    Saturn In Scorpio
    Saturn Rahu Conjunction
    Saturn Retrograde
    Savitr
    Scorpio
    Second Chakra
    Self Care
    Self Love
    Self Tracking
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Servicesandofferings
    Services And Offerings
    Sessionsconsults
    Sessions-consults
    Sessions Consults9659814dae
    Shadows
    Shakti
    Shiva
    Shivaratri
    Shuklapaksha
    Shukla Paksha
    Sidereal Astrology
    Signs
    Singing
    Sixth-house
    Solar Eclipse
    Soma
    Soul
    Spine
    Spiritual Bypassing
    Spring Equinox
    Spring-equinox
    Sravana
    Storms
    Suklanta
    Summer Solstice
    Sun
    Sun In Cancer
    Sun In Gemini
    Sun In Leo
    Sun In Pisces
    Sun In Sagittarius
    Sun In Scorpio
    Sun In Taurus
    Sun In Virgo
    Sun Mercury Conjunction
    Sun Sign
    Surya
    Swati
    Swati Jr Jewelry
    Tamalpa
    Tapas
    Taurus
    Tejas
    Testimonials
    The Critic
    The Emergent
    Three-steps
    Thriving
    Throat And Jaw
    Tithi 1
    Tithi-10
    Tithi 13
    Tithi 14
    Tithi15
    Tithi 15
    Tithi 2
    Tithi 3
    Tithi 4
    Tithi 5
    Tithi 7
    Tithi 8
    Tithi 9
    Transits
    Trayodashi
    Tropical Astrology
    Twelfth-house
    Upanishad
    Uttarabhadrapada
    Uttaraphalguni
    Uttarashada
    Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra
    Varuna
    Vasant-navaratri
    Vasu
    Vasudeva
    Vasu Devas
    Vayu
    Venus
    Venus In Aries
    Venus In Cancer
    Venus In Gemini
    Venus In Leo
    Venus In Libra
    Venus In Pisces
    Venus In Scorpio
    Venus In Taurus
    Vijayadashami
    Virgo
    Vishaka
    Vishnu
    Vishvadeva
    Vishvakarma
    Visvadeva
    Vulnerability
    Waningmoon
    Waning Moon
    Warrior
    Water
    Water Color
    Waxingmoon
    Waxing Moon
    Wealth
    Winter Solstice
    Winter-solstice
    Workshops
    Yagyas
    Yajur Veda
    Yama
    Yoga
    Zen

All content on this website is sole property of Saraswati Embodied Dharma Coaching  unless otherwise noted and may not be reproduced without permission or consent. Please be aware that legal action will be taken if content is used without permission or credit.
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Swati
  • Dharma Blog
  • Why Jyotish Astrology?
  • Privacy Policy