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Fellow PRs, our industry can be bloody tough at the best of times. Personally, it's been a battle for me to keep my brain in check during 2020 so far, so I wanted to share everything that's helped me in a lil thread, in the hope that some of this can help others #mentalhealth #PR
Bit of a disclaimer to start with, but worth saying that I am by no means a mental health professional (besides the evening course I did last year). Everything here is based on what I know from my experience and things that have helped me.
First off, remember that people are everything. Talk to your team and listen when they talk to you. We are all human beings and absolutely nobody is ever expecting you to be 100%, 100% of the time - you are not a machine (even machines have days where they just don't work)
Especially relevant for those in leadership positions: remember that not everything is within your control and nobody is expecting you to solve all the problems. Unless you can literally cure Corona and reverse the pandemic, then take the weight of the world off your shoulders.
On that note, if you haven't already then take a look at the Circle of Influence e.g. https://medium.com/swlh/sharpen-your-focus-and-accomplish-any-goal-with-a-circle-of-influence-exercise-43ac1e522d8c
For the love of God, stop getting caught up in everything that everyone else is doing. I love looking at other agencies' campaigns don't get me wrong, but when you're in the wrong headspace, my God can it be relentless. Stay in your lane and have a bit more faith in yourself.
While you're looking at those campaigns with hundreds of links, remember those agencies have had their own hardships too! What you don't see are the late shifts until 9pm getting the work done, the back and forth getting approvals, the many journo emails saying not interested
While we're on that topic, don't get caught up starting work at the crack of dawn and working way past the time you should have clocked off. It's never worth it. You have a life to live.
Remember that the worst-case scenario you've played over in your head most likely isn't going to happen. Even if it does, odds are you'll be totally fine. Heard this a few times in my career but props to @mslizzypeters for being the first to say it to me: "It's PR, not ER."
Also, credit where credit is due to @mslizzypeters for being the first person to encourage me to get some professional help a few years ago. Sure, I totally didn't listen at the time, but I did a few years later and look at me now!
That said, find someone you can talk to! I'm incredibly lucky to have the wonderful @lauramarysmith as my manager and friend, who knows how my wild brain works and is ready and waiting to listen whenever I need.
Also doubly lucky to have another of my best pals @alicefranksPR working alongside me. Also, my literal entire team who just smash it every single day @MaryOliviaHicks @Framull @Chloeeaayy @katiedotevans @b_ecki
Find yourself a hobby too, something you're going to want to get stuck into after you've finished work. It's all too easy to carry work with us into the evening, but if a spot of knitting can take your mind off it, then you best bloody well get knitting.
For that matter, get your emails off your personal phone as well. Up until lockdown, I was in a never-ending cycle of checking my emails from the minute I woke up to the minute I went to bed. How sad is that?! Give yourself a bloody break.
Finally (for now anyway, I may add to this), just do your best, that's literally all anyone can ever ask for. Who knows when life will stop being so feral?! Ultimately, shit will always be thrown our way to deal with, because that's just how life works, but we'll deal.
