{"id":7254,"date":"2017-10-18T23:28:39","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T22:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7254"},"modified":"2017-10-19T00:07:33","modified_gmt":"2017-10-18T23:07:33","slug":"look-after-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/2017\/10\/look-after-yourself.htm","title":{"rendered":"Look after yourself, look after your mind"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Tuesday was World Mental Health Day<\/a>\u00a0– a day aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health. 2017’s theme was mental health in the workplace<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The thing about mental health issues is that most people don\u2019t understand – until we experience problems ourselves – and then we realise just how common those issues are. That\u2019s why days like World Mental Health Day are so important.<\/p>\n

I had my first \u201cepisode\u201d back in 2007, when I let work-related stress build to a point where I was diagnosed with anxiety. It took a few weeks off and a change of job role to set me straight.<\/p>\n

But stress-related anxiety is not something that one \u201cgets better” from (at least not in my experience). Instead, I\u2019ve learned to spot the signs and to take action. I\u2019ve begun to recognise when I\u2019m heading in the wrong direction because I\u2019m agitated with colleagues or customers over apparently trivial things. My work isn\u2019t going to get less stressful, so I’ve put coping strategies in place: I exercise; I try to take a break most days (even if it\u2019s just a short walk, although I really must stop combining the short walk with confectionary purchases\u2026); I blog (I find the writing cathartic).<\/p>\n

Hopefully no-one notices. It doesn\u2019t affect my ability to do my job (unless my job has unreasonable expectations) and a good manager (or team member) will recognise when someone is struggling.<\/p>\n

So it’s\u00a0ironic that, in the week of World Mental Health Day, I found myself finishing the week with a tweet about working late on a Friday again (which I probably should never have sent). And when I finally stopped for the weekend I realised why I was in the state I was in: I hadn\u2019t managed to get to any of my \u201cCaveman Conditioning<\/a>\u201d (circuit training) sessions; I travelled in evenings to be in the right location for the next day\u2019s work and avoid an early start; I ate crap food; I didn\u2019t get enough sleep (Premier Inn<\/a> beds may be comfortable but a hotel is still not home); I hadn’t blogged in ages; and I\u2019d had a cold all week.<\/span><\/p>\n

This week has had less travel but still a lot of pressure. But I\u2019m starting to wonder how much of that pressure is perceived. How much stress do I add by insisting that things are done to a particular standard? And really, does it have to be me? Do I have to say \u201cyes\u201d to every request?<\/p>\n

I have deliverables to produce by the end of this week so, yesterday, I set Skype for Business to Do Not Disturb, closed Outlook and got my head down. My productivity soared. Stuff happened without me. The world did not end. Unfortunately, I checked email at lunchtime and fell into a pit of despair but, after responding to some messages, I closed it again and cracked on as best I could with the document I need to write. I wrote some more. I felt (a bit) better.<\/p>\n

I won\u2019t pretend that I\u2019m not looking forward to a week off work next week. Even if most of my half-term plans revolve around a huge clear-out and getting on top of my home admin. That will be another set of tasks off my list, off my mind.<\/p>\n

I posted another tweet this week – much more positive than last Friday\u2019s whinge:<\/p>\n

\n

Never underestimate the impact of saying “thank you” to someone for a job well done. Even if it’s just “doing their job”…<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Wilson ???? (@markwilsonit) October 17, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n