Living Optimally In the Workplace Through Healing, Faith, and Self-Reflection

A thousand thoughts are running through your head. An endless checklist that doesn't seem to get smaller. Meeting after meeting. Documentation. No time to eat, grabbing bites between classes and meetings.

This is the life of an educator or someone in the corporate setting.

There's never enough time in the day to get things done. There's always pressure to perform, look good on paper, and continue to meet and exceed expectations. But when do we show up for ourselves? How can we want the best and desire to live optimally when we aren't giving ourselves the same grace to do so?

In order for us to answer this question, I have been studying the Theory of Optimal Psychology by Dr. Linda James Myers. This is a process of working on the person as a whole, holistically, instead of focusing on individual, separate parts.

When working in education or corporate spaces, we often operate in a sub-optimal mindset and a constant state of fight-or-flight. What I mean by this is the constant stress of planning, meetings, deadlines, testing, and documentation, just to name a few. There isn't time for us to decompress and take a breather for ourselves—to live in a flow state, even if it's only for five minutes. We aren't operating from our best selves.

To transition from a sub-optimal to an optimal mindset one centered on spiritual interconnectedness, community care, and holistic wellness we can implement small daily steps that foster a peaceful, content flow state.

Here are some practical strategies to guide this shift:

1. Set your day off right: Light a candle, pray, and journal to renew your mindset, drawing inspiration from Matthew 6:6 and Romans 12:2.

2. Organize with a planner: Note pressing meetings and critical daily deadlines that cannot wait.

3. Write a to-do list: Track completed tasks successively, reflecting the principles found in Habakkuk 2:2.

4. Set a timer: Timebox specific tasks on your phone to reduce stress through structured focus.

5. Leave work at work: Protect your personal time by choosing not to bring work home.

6. Control what you can and let God handle the rest: Find peace and release anxiety through prayer and stillness, as guided by Philippians 4:6–7 and Psalm 46:10.

As you apply these steps, use this powerful worship anthem to shift your atmosphere and remind you of God's liberating power over your daily stress:

"Release" by The Church Choir (featuring Maranda Curtis & John P. Kee)

While not every day will go perfectly, incorporating these steps, especially starting your day with intentionality, can make challenging days more manageable. Grounded in 1 Corinthians 12:20–26 and Ephesians 4:15–16, we must honor our entire selves with love, recognizing that we cannot pour from an empty cup or help others without first caring for ourselves.

We must ultimately answer the question: How can I be of help to anyone else if I'm not putting myself first?