With the growing stresses and pressures of modern life, it’s all the more important that we continue to check in on ourselves and spread mental health awareness. That’s why days like today, World Mental Health Day, are so paramount to the work calendar. We as a society are getting better at how we approach mental health, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.

As a team of hardworking digital marketers, it has to be said that our days can sometimes be stressful, and our weeks can be long. We all have our ways of decompressing after a long day or disconnecting from the outside world after a busy week.

World Mental Health Day 2023

For World Mental Health Day 2023, we thought it would be interesting to see what it is that helps our team deal with their mental health, how they manage their stress and how they switch off in their free time. There’s an eclectic mix here, and it’s so interesting to see what each individual finds is beneficial to them. From reading a book to running a marathon, coffees to crystals, everyone has their own specific idea of how to manage your mental health.

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As a creative, I find it good to keep the work I do at home separate from my day-to-day, finding new and different forms of creative expression. This allows me to keep my creative juices flowing while not focusing on my work day. Painting or drawing, for example, takes my mind away from the stresses of life for a couple of hours and also stops me from doomscrolling. I also believe that real, physical interactions with family and friends, as well as exercise, are massively important in keeping my mind healthy.

Elliott, Graphic Designer

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A nice way to unwind at the weekend, for me, is by going to a local café. I usually go on a Saturday or Sunday morning, and order my favourite coffee (plus a little sweet treat!) and just relax for an hour or two. Of course, it’s fun to go with friends or family, but it’s also important to enjoy your own company every now and then.

Elish, Copywriter

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I tend to leave my room quite messy, so finding time to tidy and organise my room really feels like getting my headspace in order, too. It’s not a massive thing, but that along with some fresh bedding allows me to feel nice and calm, and I’m able to chill in bed with a face mask on.

Cara, PPC Executive

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When I settle into bed, I like to put crystals under my pillow and listen to a guided meditation on YouTube. I’ll usually charge my crystals in sunlight, bury them under soil (to ground myself), or if the weather’s nice I’ll go for a walk and charge them in flowing water. I love listening to meditations by Jason Stephenson on YouTube as he has a really soothing voice - it helps me drift off to sleep, and listening to it subconsciously through the night allows me to wake up really relaxed!

James, Business Development Executive

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Working in the digital marketing industry means that I’m at a computer for about seven hours a day, five days a week. And, like most people, I come home and spend my evening in front of a device, watching TV or YouTube or scrolling social media. Every couple of nights, I’ll take a bath and read a book - a real, paperback book - and leave all my electronics in another room. Even having an hour to disconnect from the anxieties of the outside world feels so good, and it encourages me to find other ways I can cut out electronics where possible.

Joe, Head of Copy

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As a mum of two young children (aged three and five) as well as working full time, my days stretch from 6 am up until when the kids go to bed at 7:30 pm - and that’s if they go to sleep on time! I love and need my sleep and try to get to bed by 10, so I have a very short period of time to relax at night. I usually play video games like Call of Duty to switch off from the real world, cook a nice meal, or spend time with my pets. I collect tarantulas, and I find watching them do their thing or learning more about them on YouTube really helps me unwind.

Having this free time allows me to remember that I’m still my own person with interests and hobbies, and it’s not just being a mum that defines me. Working parents out there who struggle to balance work and life, believe me, you’re not alone! It’s hard not to feel guilty for working or making time for yourself, and I’ve used this fantastic website called Wisdom for Working Mums as a resource to aid with regaining control of my busy life.

Harley, Head of Operations & Engagement

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The best thing for my mental health is the gym. There’s the added bonus of strength and physical health, but a good push during a workout switches the brain off and feels almost like restarting a laptop to me! A second fave is baking or cooking - putting all my thoughts into the recipe helps me switch off, plus you get a delicious treat at the end!

Finally, I feel like staying on top of my social life is important. Even the act of being sociable, whether it’s friends, family, or a stranger in a coffee shop, helps me feel connected.

Roberta, PPC Executive

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I like to relax by going to the gym after work. It takes my focus away from the day, gets me away from the screen for a little while, and the endorphins produced when working out makes me feel good!

Tom, Head of Paid Social

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Funnily, going out for a run is one of the most relaxing things for me, rather than seeing it as a chore or something I’ve got to do to stay fit. I love leaving my flat, heading out in a random direction, and just running. It’s a great way to clear your head, and not setting a time or a distance goal helps me look past it as a “complete this and then I can stop” kind of thing. The sense of achievement when you finish trumps any other feeling.

Ollie, Copywriter

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Mental health is an incredibly personal thing, and no one person can understand exactly what another is going through. It’s important to share the weight of our issues, to create a conversation about how we feel, and find ways to deal with the hardships we face. Taking time for yourself, in whatever shape that comes in, is the key to keeping control of the positivity in your life.

If you think you need help or resources relating to your mental health, we recommend you check out the fantastic work that Mind do. And remember - you’re not alone! 1 in 6 people in England will experience a mental health problem each year, but acknowledging your condition and talking about it with others can really make a whole world of difference.

Thanks so much to all of our staff members who felt comfortable enough to share their mental health experiences with us. If you have any of your own tips, comments, or questions, please feel free to message us on Instagram, X, Threads, Facebook or LinkedIn.