Coping Mechanisms: Let's Taco Bout Them
Maren Hogan
CEO of Red Branch Media, a full-service marketing and advertising agency. Speaker, writer, advisor, and #HRTech Investor
In our recent team meeting, we paused to address something many don’t discuss openly (but should), but that profoundly affects us all: how we're coping with today's relentless chaos.
I’ve seen about 2384023957 social media updates saying this—work-life balance was challenging enough before it evolved into "work-life-activist balance." Now we're juggling careers while navigating financial uncertainty, rising inflation, concerns about education systems, political tensions, and an endless news cycle that brings fresh anxiety with each notification. Like FR, I am swimming in a sea of cortisol on the REG!
The Need for Collective Breathing
Our conversation was inspired by a simple observation (again, gleaned from social media, if only you could see my camera roll, it’s where screenshots go to die): just as a choir can sustain a note indefinitely with each singer stepping back individually to breathe, our society needs the same approach to activism and engagement. No single person can remain "on" perpetually. We must take turns stepping back to recharge if we hope to sustain our collective efforts during these turbulent times. So I asked:
“What’s your (healthy) coping mechanism?”?
Our Team's Coping Toolkit
What emerged from our discussion was a hodgepodge of personal practices that help each team member find moments of peace and restoration. Here's what we shared:
Physical Reset
Mindfulness Practices
Gratitude and Perspective
Mental Escapes
The Productivity Paradox (callback!!)
Perhaps the most important insight from our discussion was the recognition that while there's always more work to do—especially in a client-focused marketing agency where "done" rarely exists—taking time for these restorative practices actually makes us more effective when we return to our desks.
This is a better paradox than the other one, but it’s just as crystal clear: stepping away from work makes us better at our work. Creating space for joy and restoration isn't just personally beneficial; it's professionally essential. We simply are not cut out to live in sustained stress but like, we totally have to, so books and candy it is.?
Moving Forward
As we navigate this complex moment in history, our team is committed to stealing supporting each other's coping strategies and recognizing that self-care isn't selfish—it's sustainable. As countless southern church ladies have told me, “you can’t pour from an empty cup hon.”??
We'll continue sharing what works, being honest about our struggles (solving most of them with food, we’re a foodie bunch around here), and remembering that we're all swimming through the same cesspool and HAVE TO support each other.?
What coping mechanisms have you and your team discovered? If you don’t know, ask! We'd love to hear what's working for others navigating similar challenges.
This article emerged from a team standup discussion where we shared our personal approaches to maintaining balance in chaotic times.
?? Reaching 1 M HR & Recruiters Monthly | ?? Trainer for SHRM & HRCI exams | ?? New courses for AI & Work Investigations | ?? Fractional Marketer for HR Tech
1 天前As someone who teaches meditation and breathwork, it is life changing but takes time, patience and curiosity. I love so much you are talking about these things and sharing with the larger community.
Global Leader, HR Transformation & Technology Advisory | Analyst | Global Community Leader | Brand Strategy & Vendor Solutions
1 天前Maren, did you recently amp up writing... & these newsletters in particular... or have I been missing them? So. Good. And necessary. More, please. ????
Employment Attorney, Writer, HR Tech, Law Professor Author, Get Pay Right: How to Achieve Pay Equity that Works
1 天前I take my dog to the beach. Nature and pure puppy joy are very therapeutic.
Senior Recruiter | Textio Certified
1 天前I am on Threads, where I just followed Moby today because it seems he has a podcast episode about this and I need it. I focus on art when I am not working, but I need more because I have never lived at a time like this.