When was the last time you took a moment for yourself? In our busy lives today, it’s so easy to forget about our own personal needs. Self-care is not just about going to spa, but it involves a whole lot of area including managing stress and avoiding burnout.

About Self-Care Day

International Self Care Day is celebrated every year on 24th July which was initiated in 2011 by the International Self-Care Foundation to promote self-care globally with efforts focusing on raising awareness across age groups and studying its benefits. In 2019, the World Health Organization launched Self Care Month to support self-care initiatives and to encourage global discussions.

Why Self Care is Important

According to an article published by Galen Hope on ‘The Importance of Self-Care: Observing International Self-Care Day’, the benefits that self-care brings includes:

1. Physical Health

Self-care improves physical health through activities like healthy eating, exercise, and rest. These activities boost energy, strengthen the immune system, reduce illness risks, and enhance sleep, leading to greater vitality and overall well-being.

2. Mental and Emotional Well-being

When we do things that make us happy and relaxed, it lowers stress and makes us stronger emotionally.

3. Stress Reduction and Burnout Prevention

Engaging in activities that promote relaxation, setting boundaries and making self-care a priority helps us avoid the harmful effects of ongoing stress, keeping us well despite life's demands.

4. Improved Relationships

Prioritizing self-care improves work life by reducing burnout and stress, enhancing productivity and focus. It fosters better workplace relationships through patience and empathy, and helps maintain a healthy work-life balance, ensuring sustained performance and motivation.

5. Increased Productivity and Focus

Self-care significantly enhances productivity and focus by reducing mental fatigue and improving concentration. Taking breaks, engaging in recharging activities, and ensuring adequate rest sharpen cognitive abilities. This leads to increased efficiency and effectiveness at work.

6. Enhanced Resilience and Coping Mechanisms

By building resilience through self-care, we can handle stress and setbacks better, facing work obstacles with more strength and clarity.

Self-Care Tips for Personal Life and Work Life

Here are some easy self-care tips:

• Live healthy by eating nutritious food, exercise regularly, and avoid drugs and alcohol.
• Find ways to relax, such as meditation, yoga, or taking walks in nature.
• Practice good hygiene by maintaining cleanliness to stay healthy and feel good about yourself.
• Spend time with friends and consider joining groups to meet new people and feel connected.
• Do something you love every day like dancing, gardening, painting, or reading.
• Skipping sleep hurts your thinking and adds stress, leading to higher burnout especially for working adults. Prioritize sleep to cope better with work and daily life demands.
• Learn how to say “No”. While it's commendable to help others, it's crucial to prioritize yourself and learn to say no when you're already overwhelmed.
• Unplug from social media to improve personal time and stay focused at work. While it's good for staying connected, it can be draining if you stay online all the time.
• Establish clear boundaries with others to maintain respectful relationships in both work and personal life. Open conversations about setting healthy boundaries are a form of self-care.
• Ease up on perfectionism. It's alright if things don't go perfectly. When a work project falls short of expectations, concentrate on what you accomplished and take pride in your efforts.

Practicing self-care is crucial for staying healthy and balanced. International Self-Care Day on 24th July reminds us to prioritize habits to give us more meaning to our lives. Happy Self-Care Day!

If you're over 50 and looking for a new job, you may experience fewer opportunities in getting hired. In the recent article by The Star dated June 7, 2024, it was highlighted that employers often find various reasons not to hire people over the age of 50.

Reasons Why Employers Won’t Hire Employees After 50s

Here are some reasons we gathered from employers on why they are not considering hiring employees in their 50’s or older:

1.Not Able to Familiarize with the Latest Technology

There’s a common belief that older people struggle to keep up or take longer to learn with rapidly changing technology integrated into our daily work processes.

2. Often Over-Qualified

Many hiring managers think older workers will look for higher-paying jobs that match their skills and experience.

3. Generation Gap

Some think older workers won't accept a younger manager. Younger managers might feel uncomfortable supervising someone much older, so they might reject even qualified candidates based on age.

4. Unable to Cope with Change

The stereotype that all older workers struggle with change is over-rated but it's not always true. However, this stereotype can still affect how older workers are perceived in interviews, regardless of their actual abilities.

5. Often Think they are Right

Some older workers may interpret suggestions as a challenge to their authority or knowledge, leading them to assert their opinions more forcefully.

6. Long-Term Continuity

Some organizations seek to engage employees to work on a long term basis with them. Hence leaving them with the idea that older employees potentially will leave the company sooner rather than later.

7. Lack of Energy

As we age, it's a fact that our energy levels can decrease. This doesn't mean older workers are less enthusiastic or enjoyable, but some hiring managers may unconsciously overlook them for this reason.

 

Why employers should consider hiring employees after 50s

We interviewed a number of employees over the age of 50 and gathered their insights on why companies should consider hiring them and the following is some of their feedback.

1.Seasoned and Experienced

Hiring experienced employees over 50 brings valuable knowledge gained from years of solving problems, handling crises, achieving results, coaching other junior employees, and negotiating with clients and suppliers/vendors. They also understand how organizations work and can offer valuable advice to team and colleagues.

2. Loyal and Committed

Studies show that older employees exhibit higher levels of loyalty. They tend to remain with the same employer for extended periods and show strong commitment to their employer and customers.

3. Broad Network of Connections

They have a wider network over their careers, including clients, former colleagues, suppliers, and friends. Employers can benefit from these connections.

4. Open to Short Term Employment

Some older employees may be open to short-term project roles due to their extensive experience, whereas many younger employees often prioritize permanent roles.

5. Experienced Employee with Lower Salary

Retired employees sometimes seek employment primarily to stay active rather than remain idle at home. Thus, they are willing to accept a pay cut simply to keep themselves occupied, with money no longer being a primary motivator for them in the workforce.

 

Tips for those in their 50’s or older to get hired

Here are some tips to consider to successfully get a job.

1.Highlight your Job Skills

Include keywords related to your current job skills rather than focusing solely on past achievements.

2. Start Exposing yourself to Technology

Begin by familiarizing yourself with the tools utilized by today's workforce and gaining a thorough understanding before embarking on your job search. Stay engaged on LinkedIn or other platforms to immerse yourself in current technologies available. The more you learn, the quicker you'll adapt and understand.

3. Accept Change

Capable of gracefully embracing changes in procedures and working collaboratively with younger generations who may approach tasks differently.

4. Accepting New Terms of Employment

Willing to accept the employment terms offered for the job, including being flexible with time commitments as required. Open to dedicating additional time when necessary, without insisting on strict adherence to regular working hours or being unavailable for overtime or weekend work when needed.

In summary, while older job seekers face age-related challenges, their experience and dedication bring valuable benefits to employers. By emphasizing current skills, demonstrating tech proficiency, and staying connected through networking, older employees can enhance their competitiveness in today's job market. Embracing fairness and valuing everyone's contributions can create a stronger workforce where experience and skills matter most, not age.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or better known as PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects not only war or military veterans but anyone who has experienced or witnessed trauma. The National Center for PTSD (2023) reports that about 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lifetime. Recovery times vary, with some people recovering within months and others taking years or experiencing delayed onset. PTSD can be treated with various therapies and medications. It's crucial to acknowledge and address the significant impact of trauma, such as the effects of PTSD on work life, rather than avoiding it.

A.    Effects of PTSD in work-life

Common types of toxic or otherwise traumatic workplace conditions that have been linked to PTSD include:

1. Safety hazards - Unsafe working environment, such as neglected safety requirements or poor maintenance, can cause physical harm and trauma. Examples, like not following COVID-19 guidelines, unsafe elevators, poor ventilation, and outdated security systems, all leading to potential PTSD.

2. Bullying, harassment, and assault - Employees who experience verbal, physical, or sexual abuse at work can lead to PTSD. If action isn’t taken, victims suffer psychological distress, lose trust in their colleagues and leaders, self-doubt, and feel unsafe at work.

3. Power imbalances - Workplace hierarchies can create an environment where employees fear speaking out against abuse. This imbalance of power creates feelings of insecurity, helplessness, and isolation, contributing to work-related trauma and PTSD.

4. Cut-throat competition - Highly competitive workplaces often lead to overwork, not enough of sleep, lack of trust and poor work-life balance. These conditions can have long-term psychological effects and contribute to PTSD.

5. Isolation from support - Abusive bosses and forced overtime or weekend works can distance employees from their support systems. This isolation from coworkers, family, and friends, combined with bringing work problems home, creates additional stress and can result in PTSD.

 

B.    How to overcome PTSD?

Certain actions can help to reduce your distressing symptoms and make things better. Plus, these actions can result in changes that last into the future. Here are some positive coping methods:

1.     Learn about trauma and PTSD

Understanding common reactions to trauma and the symptoms of PTSD can help you realize you are not alone or weak. Knowing that many others share your experiences can empower you to seek treatment and better cope with your symptoms.

2.     Distract yourself with positive activities

Pleasant recreational or work activities help distract a person from their memories and reactions such as meditation, swimming, stretching, yoga, listening to quiet music, spending time in nature and so on.

3.     Talking to your doctor or a counselor about trauma and PTSD

When coping strategies fail or symptoms worsen, seeking professional help from a doctor or counselor is crucial. They can offer therapy, medication, and other treatments for managing PTSD symptoms and improve overall health.

 

To wrap up, PTSD isn't just for certain groups, it can happen to anyone, even in the workplace. Understanding how it can affect us is key to making workplaces safer and helping people heal. By learning about PTSD, asking for support, and finding healthy ways to cope, we can beat it and look forward to better days ahead.

We are truly honored to be featured in Asia Business Outlook Magazine's June 2024 edition as one of the Top 10 Most Promising Recruitment Consultants in Malaysia for 2024.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion that our team at Unitalent Employment Agency brings to every client and candidate we serve.

Thank you to Asia Business Outlook for this prestigious acknowledgment, and a heartfelt thanks to our clients and partners for their continuous trust and support. This achievement motivates us to strive even harder to connect top talent with outstanding opportunities.https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7201477714187333632

We recently had the opportunity to participate in the Career Fair at the University of Cyberjaya on May 21, 2024. It was our first time visiting this university, and I must say the campus was impressive. In addition to meeting enthusiastic students, we also connected with educators who brought their students to our booth and other employers offering career opportunities to fresh graduates. We wish all the fresh graduates the very best as you embark on your journey into the working world.