Your Guide to Wellbeing on the Job

Starting an apprenticeship can be both physically and mentally demanding, so it’s important you take care of yourself.

By maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle, you’ll be able to meet the demands of your apprenticeship better. Plus, you’ll still have plenty of energy left over to enjoy things outside of work – like sport or catching up with friends.

Here are some tips to help you manage the demands placed on you by an apprenticeship:

Plan your meals

You need to make sure you’re fuelling your body with nutritious food so you have the energy to get through the day. Plumbing is a physical job and you’re likely to burn off a lot more calories than previously. Get into the habit of planning and prepping your meals for the day ahead. This will ensure you’re eating enough healthy food. Meal prepping can also save you money as your less likely to buy junk food every time you pull into a petrol station.

Engage in exercise

Trades can be physically demanding, so you need to understand that the work can be hard and tiring. In the early days, it may seem exhausting, but it will get easier over time. You might find some value in adding some additional exercise to build up your strength and physical capacity. But don’t overdo things. it’s equally important to listen to your body and get plenty of rest when your feeling extra tired.

Get plenty of sleep

Experts recommend eight hours of uninterrupted sleep in order to hold off stress. If you're not getting enough sleep, your productivity at work will fall. And the work will be less enjoyable. More importantly, sleep deprivation can lead to dangerous mistakes that put your safely and the safety of your workmates at risk. So make sure you are well rested to get the best out of yourself.

Drink lots of water

Throughout the day, you lose about two litres of water from your body. If you don’t replace this lost water, it will lead to dehydration, which presents as thirst, headaches, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and dry mouth. So get into the habit of carrying our water bottle with you and sip water regularly, Try to avoid sugary energy drinks. Soft drinks don’t replace the water you lose, and caffeinated energy drinks can actually make dehydration worse.

Wear a hat & sunscreen

If you’re working outdoors, direct exposure to the sun will drain your energy very quickly. Wear a hat and apply sunscreen regularly to reduce the chances of sun stroke and sun burn. Consider a brim hat as they provide even greater protection that baseball style caps.

Manage your stress levels

Having a little bit of stress is actually a good thing. It will help you feel alert and increase your ability to concentrate and perform your job well. However, too much stress can be overwhelming and lead to mental and physical problems. So make sure you’re taking steps to manage your stress levels. Maintain a good work life balance and avoid turning to alcohol or drugs to mask your stresses.

Talk to people

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to people about it – find someone who will listen without being judgmental. Speak about any issues you have so you don’t have to endure stressful times alone. And if you are feeling anxious or depressed, talk to your GP or an or an organisation like Beyond Blue. They’ll direct you to a professional for further support if you need it.