Recharge. Reset

I was in conversation this week with a senior Director and we were talking about how this week was 'chaotic and crazy busy' as they prepared for a holiday. I hear this alot, and experience it myself. We work hard, we plan our breaks throughout the year, however, the week before becomes a nightmare as we try and fill every moment to get things done that we need to do.

Then of course there is the week we return and we all know how that feels, even when, and if you are like me, everyday you check the emails and deal with the 'urgent', the inbox is still a long list of unread 'other' on the return. How often do we really experience the benefits the holiday, rest and the break we needed and more importantly how long does it last?

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and I personally think we need to reframe mental health, as mental 'ill' health and mental 'good' health, or something similar, Mental wellness or maybe not so wellness.

I recently saw a post from Steven Bartlett on a similar subject and how by previously booking too much over a period of time, he mentally hit a wall, he said:

We are all humans with a set of unnegotiable basic needs. If you deprive yourself of these basic needs your body will often send you signals - anxiety, depression etc, as a last ditch attempt to get you to course correct.

'Mental wellness' invites us to consider mental health as a continuum, where the focus isn't solely on long-term mental illnesses but also on the temporary states of distress that affect our daily lives. Just as we might take a sick day for a physical ailment, a 'mental wellness day' can be a proactive step to manage temporary stress, prevent burnout, and maintain our overall well-being.

It’s essential to recognise that sometimes, all we need is a brief pause—a day or a week—to realign our mental state and return to our tasks refreshed and more productive, as Steven also said, I thought I was too 'mentally strong' and logical to ever suffer with mental health challenges...

I thought I was too "mentally strong" and "logical" to ever suffer with any mental health challenges.

I hear this from many senior Directors and C-Suite leaders, I know many people who feel like this, who plough through no matter what, struggling to do what we used to do, juggling ever busier lives, families, hobbies, more responsibilities, promotions etc.

I also, alarmingly still hear of business owners and the C-Suite who dismiss mental 'ill' health, or just don't know what to do about it, when they are not getting the productivity or performance they feel they should. Leaving many talented senior leaders and future aspirational leaders with the perception that the corporate life and career are just not for them.

As with Steven's post, many of us find ourselves in these situation because we say yes to too many things.

Recognising our feelings, raising our floor and saying no more often, taking that little bit of extra time for ourselves will pay dividends in the long run for you, your career and your business.

What are your thoughts and experiences with mental wellness. How do you manage your mental health in the short term, and what strategies have you found effective? Feel free to share privately or, in the comments.

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