Marketing and positive mental health go hand in hand. So, how can we look after our mental health as marketers? According to Mind, a mental health charity based in the UK, a staggering 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England alone. We’re here to fight back against our inner voices and support you on your marketing journey, putting your mental health first.
As social media becomes a little more important every day, it has never been more important to open up about your mental health. In the marketing world, we are constantly reminded to take care of our mental health and that mental health matters. We are encouraged to talk to our loved ones or reach out for support if we are struggling mentally, but how many of us actually listen and follow this advice? And, how can we look after our mental health as marketers?
Here are some methods that we use at Girls in Marketing to take care of our mental health. As marketers that spend a significant amount of time in the digital space, it’s so important to make time for what truly matters.
Set healthy boundaries
There are so many ways that you can put boundaries into place that will benefit you mentally. For example, you may want to set a boundary to not work out of office hours. It is important to communicate your boundaries clearly with your team (or clients!), whilst remaining respectful of theirs. Setting boundaries in the workplace may take some time but it will be totally worth it and they’ll allow you to carry out your job role whilst not suffering from burnout. Although putting boundaries into place may seem a little scary at first, don’t be afraid to make these clear – you’ll thank yourself in future.
Unfollow the negativity
The average person spends about five hours a day on their mobile phone, which equates to 35 hours a week (!!!), six days a month, and 72 days per year. If you work in social media, this is likely to be even more. Try to unfollow people with negative vibes and follow people that you enjoy engaging with. The types of posts that you see every day will have more of an effect on your mental health than you initially think. You’re likely to feel much happier within yourself if you’re seeing positive posts on your social media.
Find support that’s right for you
Everyone is unique. We all think, learn and act differently, which is why we may not all find the same method of mental health support works for us. Some people may want to seek support from mental health charities, such as Mind and the Mental Health Foundation. Others may find comfort in using apps for mental health support (keep reading for a mini-app review!).
Put time aside for self-care
Sometimes, the world may feel like it’s running at a million miles per hour and you may feel like you have no time at all. Putting some time aside for self-care will allow you to switch off and relax. Self-care doesn’t have to be the typical stereotype of a bubble bath or a face mask, it can include simple things like getting a decent amount of sleep or cooking a nice meal.
Download a mental health app
In recent years, there has been a surge in mental health apps available to download on mobile phones. Most apps for mental health support allow you to access them 24/7, explore support options, and use them anonymously.
Using these five tips will help you to explore how we can look after our mental health as marketers.
Our experience using a mental health app: Happify
As marketers ourselves, we wanted to test and review a mental health app to share with you our own experience. Here’s a small review of ‘Happify’, an app that uses science-based activities and games to overcome negative thoughts, stress, and life’s challenges.
We used the free version of the app, which includes an initial assessment of your mental state to tailor activities and games specifically to you (who doesn’t love some personalisation). You can operate the app in ‘private’ mode or ‘community’ mode. Each mode gives you a different experience, with the community mode allowing other users to encourage and support you whereas the private mode keeps your anonymity. Exercises are based on either health and well-being, relationships, family and kids, mindfulness, medication, work and money, and personal growth. The app also allows you to explore your five top character strengths and has hundreds of blog articles to learn more about mental health.
After a week of using the app, we felt like it brought more positivity into our lives. If you’re struggling with your mental health, we would recommend using this alongside another method of support.
We hope this blog encourages you on how can we look after our mental health as marketers. You’re never alone within our marketing community, and there’s always a place for you and your dreams. Celebrate the small wins in life, and remember that you’re so valued in this industry and beyond!
