health
IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR HEALTH, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
take care of body. take care of mind
Health over everything. It's as simple as that.
​
Have you ever tried to nail a creative task when you're sick as a dog? If we don't have our health, we lack all kinds of energy - physical, mental and creative. And when we lack that energy, it's a huge challenge to deliver decent work, let alone thrive.
​
It's also incredibly difficult to make personal change and progress when we're burnt out, or sick. We have to take care of our health if we want to build our resilience.
how marketers maintain health
sleep
Work is a struggle after a rough night's sleep. Trust me I know...I've got two young children and neither of them are good sleepers. Being in marketing means that we are constantly required to think creatively and find new ways to come up with innovative ideas. There are thousands of studies out there now about the importance of sleep, but the main thing to remember is that it's ideal to get at least 7 hours. Naps are also encouraged for boosted creativity too - research shows that naps can improve our cognitive performance.
mindfulness
Marketing can be a high-stress profession! We have tight deadlines, the stakes are high, and everyone apparently needs something urgently. Mindfulness is about finding a place of peace and calm despite all of that swirling noise. It's a practice that can help us maintain a heightened level of awareness too - we're able to see things clearly and that empowers us to respond rather than react. When we practice mindfulness, we can reduce stress by promoting relaxation and presence, which in turn enables us to handle pressure with ease. People will notice how calm we are!
breath
The next time your boss slashes the marketing budget, take a big breath. It's free and it'll help you feel better instantly. Controlled breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which actually reduces our cortisol levels and helps create a state of calm. Certain breathing exercises can significantly reduce stress levels, improve focus and concentration, and open up our mental space for more creative thinking. On top of that, when our minds are not clouded with stress, we make better decisions. So breath.
balanced diet
I'm not a doctor, nor am I a nutritionist, but I've personally felt the benefits of a balanced diet, and the implications when things have veered off track (we all have our moments!). I mean, I've never really felt energized and creative after eating a burger and downing a coke for lunch. If anything, I feel lethargic. For us marketers, whatever we can do to maintain a high-level of cognitive ability will help us build our resilience. We'll be more alert, which improves our empathy, mindset and communication opportunities (just to name a few benefits).
quick guide: these ideas wrapped up
Gone are the days of the Don Draper's of the world sucking back cigarettes and drinking whiskey for great ideas and results. The mental health statistics for our industry are alarming, and we need to prioritize a healthy approach to work now. So this is an opportunity for all of us to aspire to focusing on maintaining health, both physical and mental with a simple approach that makes time for some peace and quiet, good sleep, a balanced diet and breathing. Want 5 quick tips to get started? Click below.
