Setting out to sea is always filled with excitement and anticipation, always. The thrill of new adventure awaits. Much like a new job, and trust me I have has a few! Putting into practice skills honed, learning new things, meeting new people and my favourite part an inherent uncertainty, that mirrors the unpredictability of the sea. 

MOB: Man. Over. Board

In the bustling tempest of modern work life [especially post the world hiatus], we get caught in the storm within the teacup! The unrelenting and ever-growing workload; it was fine when under house arrest, but now we are back to rebuilding our social lives, having to run errands, squeeze in recreation, manging the kids social and extra curricular diaries, or [insert other obligation/responsibility], etc. etc. Then suddenly you burst at the seems emotionally and it comes out as tears, or a tirade, or worse stone cold silence, because the proverbial straw, something seemingly inconsequential pushed you over the edge!

We put it down to the business of life, instead of acknowledging the subtle strains affecting our mental and physical health. When really is was a culmination of unaddressed stressors that triggered an overwhelming emotional response . “You’re overreacting”, “don’t be so silly”, and “don’t be so emotional” spring to mind because they have been actual responses when it has happened to me; and I retreat. There is just no fight left in me in that moment! What is seemingly to trivial to the observer, exposed the magnitude of the underlying pressures I was juggling, pretending “everything is fine, I’m just busy!”. Sound familiar?

S.O.S – Stressed Out Sailor!

The first week of November is annually International World Stress Awareness Week. The stigma of not being able to cope is still very real, 25 years on. The theme this year is Beyond Stress Management: From Stigma to Solutions. I fully support this message having spiralled to the murky fathoms of depression and been prone to the outbursts and silence in the past.

The Mental Health Foundation estimates 51% of adults who felt stressed reported feeling depressed and 61% were anxious. Mates in Mind report 914,000 cases [in the UK] of work-related stress, depression in anxiety in 2021/22 where the demands of the job, lack of control, lack of information and support, and responsibilities as some of the main causes.

The aim of the week is to raise awareness about stress, its impact on mental and physical health and the importance of stress management. 

The solution pillars to the campaign are listed below and if you are stressed or think you might be please visit the pages linked for resources to help you:

• Self-care
• Education
• Awareness
• Support

Life-Jackets are Mandatory

Life jackets are cumbersome, some unsightly, most uncomfortable [to begin with] and generally have a bad rap! The thing is in an emergency when you need it, it is probably to late!

Life jackets are my euphemism for prioritising self preservation! You have to take care of you first, especially in the water! You can on tread water for so long! The force of your personal storm is so personal to you, that what looks like a gale to Someone-else is a hurricane to you. Just like any storm, in the throws of mounting stress, there is the calm before the storm, when we lull ourselves into thinking everything really is fine!

Now there are key standardised items on a life jacket, however I said prioritise self-preservation – so we the premium life-jacket money can buy, and that comes at a cost. Ergo there is a cost to self-care; it may look like rest, an early night, gym membership, a app subscription, a coach, a course, anything that is just for you – YOU TIME. It is your responsibility to prioritise your self-care and mental well-being because you are the only one that can do it! 

Life Lines – your stress relief!

Life lines are literally ropes on the boat you throw to someone in the water when a M.O.B happens to haul you back to safety. There are strategies galore to manage stress; meditation, sport, yoga exercise, acupuncture, holidays, music, skydiving, art therapy, tree-hugging, breathwork, chewing gum, laughing, eating [caution with this one], dancing, getting a pet, sailing and on and on it goes. The key is to manage stress in a healthy manner that is the right fit for you.

Find a life line that fits into your lifestyle and inspires you to keep doing it because it is a) fun and b) you enjoy it! It is important to schedule it, start with once a week and build it up to a daily practice to build your resilience muscles and be your own life line.

Your buddy DAN-BUOY

So you need a little help, THAT IS OK! We all do, and you should seek out support! In the work-place that may be your HR or H&S team, at home it might be you love, or bestie. In the words of the old British Telecom advert “It is good to talk”.

Life Saving Appliances

Outbursts and reclusive retreats are poignant reminder, that it is crucial to recognise the signs of an impending storm, before it reaches a tempestuous crescendo. Use the life saving appliances you have access to to be prepared.

Journaling, is your number one free tool to hone in on yourself awareness. It is vital, that as soon as you can after emotional overwhelm you put pen to paper and capture the raw and real feelings. On the days you want to hide under the covers, get your journal out, you will begin to notice the pressure systems and patterns affecting you.

Lean into relationship, personally and professionally. International Stress Awareness week allows us to help ourselves and the people we care about. I utilised both, It wasn’t easy, the storm lasted longer than I wanted it to and I am so, so, sooo very grateful for the people in my life who were there for me and still are to this day.

Movement and Meditation. Whatever these two life savers look like for you build them into your daily routine. They are scientifically proven to get through any storm quicker, and they build the muscle you need to be a strong swimmer in the water! Yes in the water, because until you can control everything, I guarantee you will be swimming at some point on this journey.

Thank you for stopping by today, and thanks for your valuable time. Let me know your coping strategies in the comments. This is something I care deeply about and wanted to share it with you. Till next time, from the logbook.

KAxx