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THE WORK LIFE BALANCE: SUPPORT SYSTEMS

I’m guilty of talking back to my parents, especially during my pre-teen years. I enjoyed isolating myself and dividing myself from the rest of my family. As the inevitable stress that comes with the workload heightened, I was desperate for a diversion from schoolwork and to spend time outside of the four walls of my stress/comfort zone. What I didn’t realize was that I wasn’t making the best of the support right under my nose.

As humans, we need other humans to thrive. The capacity to form and maintain relationships is essential to us and how we function in society. Poor social support has been associated with depression and loneliness, which can be detrimental to one’s mental health and affect their daily life. Three core groups make up a strong support system – family, friends, and teachers. Research by the NCBI has shown that having a social support system can have a positive impact on your overall mental health, especially for women, older adults, patients, students, and workers. (Mental Health First Aid USA, 2020) It has been shown to decrease stress levels, promote healthier behaviors, increased life expectancy, and provide individuals with a greater sense of purpose!

Of course, it is easier said than done. Hence, here are some steps on how to strengthen and boost your support systems, recommended by Talkspace:

  • Know what you want from a support system

Do you want a friend you can confide or distress with? Or are you looking for a work buddy? But while it is important to consider what you want from your relationships, you should also prioritize other forms of support and aim to have other connections.

  • Build bonds with existing family and friends

A lot of times, the best companions are right next to you. Revitalizing these relationships requires vulnerability, but all support networks require opening up and time. It is important to give time and effort to cultivate those relationships. 

  • Embrace your interests

Football? Music? Crocheting? Join a calligraphy class, or sign up for a dance class. Sounds generic, but through embracing your interests, you are provided the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and build relationships. Consistent, regular interaction builds a strong basis for a friendship!

  • Create your personal support area

Building your personal support structure is just as important as the support networks around you. We also briefly touched up a bit on prioritizing self-care in our Burnout Article. Everyone has different forms of self-care, but most importantly, self-care means reaching out to a therapist when you need one. During difficult times, a licensed professional can help guide you, and even uncover ways for you to form interpersonal support systems. 

As a student, a lot of my stress comes from schoolwork, catching deadlines, and revising for tests. I much prefer stressing about work in my room than in front of everyone. Over time, I found that working in the living room, or working while calling a friend has helped relieve tension and stress. Everyone has different preferences for work environments, but my point is, it is important to feel the support of others even if they might not be physically next to you. Working with a peer can be quite motivating for some, and others may prefer to work in solidarity. Another alternative are Study with me videos, they are all on youtube so they are highly accessible for everyone! It is a great and secure way to feel more focused and motivated while studying at home! 

It undoubtedly takes work to strengthen or develop your support systems. But reaching out and connecting with others can boost your mood and lift your spirits!

References
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/why-relationships-are-so-important-children-and-young-people

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5633215/