Everyone needs Marmalade

We have two cats. One is jet black and is called Marmite. The other, ginger with stripes, goes by the name of Marmalade (original, I know….). We also used to have a hamster called Honey, but as we probably should have anticipated, Marmite and Honey didn’t mix well. But that’s a story for another time.

The two cats are brothers yet couldn’t be more different. Marmite is outgoing, always asking for affection. Sits where we sit and preferably in close contact. Uses his piercing cry to con us into thinking he hasn’t been fed yet. Follows us around in want of play, providing endless fun and entertainment for the kids.

Marmalade on the other hand is aloof, quiet, a bit nervous. Wants attention but only on his terms, in a specific way. And will never ask for it. Just quietly sidles up, looks up longingly until someone gets the message and picks him up. Usually at around 8 am after one of us has had a shower – we joke he is probably a bit lazy and just wants to be hugged by someone wet, so he doesn’t have to clean himself. You might think this is the lesser companion, but don’t be fooled. Marmalade is also the one who intuitively knows when one of our children is upset. Who, so shy with us, let’s himself be used as a pillow to sleep on, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to whisper secrets in, a furry blanket to hide under when everything gets too much.

Why am I sharing this? Today is World Mental Health Day, celebrated to?raise awareness regarding the issues of mental health and the importance of mental happiness. When mental health is suffering, other aspects of life such as relationships, physical health and daily functions are directly impacted.?Given we spend so much time of our daily lives at work and given all the changes the world of work at the moment, it is not surprising this topic is high on the corporate agenda.

Mental health and the future of work

Anxiety and stress are nothing new in the context of consulting. Looking back on my career, I definitely recollect the “Sunday Scaries” and once, years ago, found myself on the brink of a burnout after a particularly challenging client project. I have learned a lot since, in particular how to pace myself and build in moments of calm to regroup and recharge.

However, work stress is becoming more common, through a combination of factors. According to Ashley Stahl in their article for Forbes What The Future Of Work Means For Our Mental Health , “Covid-19 has put mental health front and centre for organizations as the safety of employees becomes paramount to survival. New research is indicating that employees are?putting in more hours than ever ,?experiencing burnout ?and exposure to added stressors such as finances or the inability to separate personal and professional commitments and roles. These shifts and changes are pushing employee well-being up the ladder of corporate priorities”.

The same article also points to a generational shift in awareness of mental health stating that half of millennials (born 1980 – 2000) and 75% of GenZ’ers (born 2000-present), the two generations that make up the overwhelming?majority of the workforce , have left roles in the past for mental health reasons and according to a recent study in the UK, Half of UK millennials and Gen Zs feel stressed most of the time. I find this fact astonishing.

The reasons for this are manifold, some related to the pandemic such as prolonged lack of face-to-face contact, working from less than ideal home set ups and worrying about financial stability, some are more systemic, related to having to deal with continuous change and the declining state of the planet. With work setups becoming more fluid, with organizational structures and stability being replaced by intangible constructs such as networking, culture and connection, with being faced with huge challenges such as climate change, it’s easy for people to feel lost and helpless, which in turn leads to feelings of anxiety. ?

If you are interested in reading more about in particular the way climate change leads to feelings of stress, check out this article “When Sustainability feels impossible” . It describes how many of us feel overwhelmed because the change we need to make feels impossible to achieve.

The good news is though, we are not as helpless as we think we may be. There are some things we can do.

Collective Purpose and Micro-Resilience

At a collective level, working for an organization that has a clear purpose to positively contribute to society and the planet is something more and more employees choose to do. By connecting individual goals to a greater good, we feel what we do really does matter. This helps decrease our feelings of helplessness.

At an individual level, there are two things I would advocate. First of all, the practice of micro-resilience. What are the little things you can do on an ongoing basis to help maintain a positive mindset? Maybe it is integrating regular breaks or exercise in your day. Maybe it is maintaining healthy eating habits. Maybe it is surrounding yourself with views or objects that give you comfort. ?In the new way of work, we are going to all be more deliberate about this. We are our own master.

Meditation apps such as Headspace can also help with this. When I start to feel overwhelmed or under pressure, I often do a 3-5 minute meditation. It has helped me to stop spiral into negative thoughts, learning to note and accept these feelings, just like I would accept waking up to a rainy day, knowing it does not define me and will pass at some point.

Secondly, reach out to each other. Our connections, the social glue, the sense of belonging, are more important than ever, especially now. Whether you are the one in need of help or whether you think someone around you might be, whether you are the senior leader or the one just starting out, make it ok, to be not ok. As we know that for everyone who is doing fine, there is someone who struggles to get out of bed to face another day. Whose smile hides an inner world of darkness. Or who switches the camera off to hide the fact they cannot smile right now. Who could do with their own “Marmalade” in whatever shape or form.

Take care wherever you are and whatever you feel, not just on this World Mental Health Day, but every day.?