The Importance of Self-Care When You're Being Bullied
The reality of workplace bullying is that it can cause both short- and long-term harm. You're experiencing ongoing abuse at work, and for many people, that abuse happens repeatedly throughout the day. Additional trauma often occurs when coworkers witness the behavior but remain silent or when leaders and organizations fail to intervene.
Over time, it's easy to slip into workplace survival mode. Your focus shifts from doing your job to simply making it through the workday. As the bullying continues, the bully's words and actions can begin to influence how you see yourself. You may start questioning your abilities, blaming yourself for what's happening, or believing the negative messages you've heard repeatedly.
Why Self-Care Matters
When you're living in survival mode, your own needs often become secondary. You may stop exercising, skip meals, lose sleep, withdraw from family and friends, or give up activities you once enjoyed. Over time, these changes can make it even harder to cope with the stress and trauma of workplace bullying.
When you're living in survival mode, taking care of yourself often feels unimportant. In reality, it's one of the most important things you can do because workplace bullying is already taking such a significant toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health.
That's why self-care is so important. Self-care isn't about ignoring what's happening or pretending everything is okay. It's about protecting your mental, emotional, and physical well-being while you're living through workplace bullying. It's about intentionally doing things that remind you who you are outside of the bullying and help counter the false messages that often develop through repeated abuse.
Making yourself a priority helps preserve your self-esteem, strengthen your resilience, and reduce some of the emotional and physical effects of workplace bullying. By taking care of yourself, you're reinforcing a different message—that your worth is not defined by the way you've been treated at work.
Self-Care at Work
Taking care of yourself is just as important during the workday as it is when you get home. Taking your breaks, eating lunch, stepping outside for fresh air, practicing a few minutes of mindfulness, or simply giving yourself permission to pause can help reduce stress and provide brief opportunities to step out of survival mode.
Self-Care at Home
At home, continue making your well-being a priority. Spend time with people who support you, participate in activities you enjoy, maintain healthy routines, and allow yourself time to recover from the demands of the workday. These small, intentional choices help restore some of the energy that workplace bullying often takes away.
Self-care won't stop workplace bullying, but it can help protect your mental, emotional, and physical health while you're living through it. It can help you think more clearly, maintain your well-being, and reduce the impact workplace bullying has on your life.
Take a moment to think about how you're caring for yourself right now. If you don't have a plan, start small. Choose three things you can begin doing today—whether at work, at home, or both—that will support your well-being. Small, consistent actions can make a meaningful difference over time.
