6tipstostaysaneinaninsanebusiness

Our Membership Services and Events Manager Abi Berry introduces some great tips for mental wellbeing, courtesy of award-winning TV Producer and Mental Health Campaigner Jeremy Thomas.

This year it seems that mental health awareness has become a part of the public consciousness. With the very high-profile interviews given by Prince Harry revealing that he has had therapy, there has been more discussion in the UK press about mental health than ever before. 

We have responded to this at a staff level, by taking a half-day course that looked at the stereotypes associated with mental illness, the distinction between mental well-being and mental health and how the two intersect. 

This MHFA course helped solidify a concern about creative freelancers, which make up the whole of the Directors UK membership. If it is hard to maintain a lifestyle that is amenable to sustaining your well-being (having a steady income, a routine, colleagues, a degree of job security), what is it like when you don’t have that support but have the responsibility to lead a production?

To see if there was a way in which we could help anyone in our membership, and to recognise the prevalence of such issues in our society, we held a talk in October featuring a guest speaker — TV producer and mental health campaigner Jeremy Thomas — as part of the regular events programme for members.

As well as imparting some stories from his own personal experience, and providing a safe space for people to share their own thoughts, Jeremy provided us with some great materials to take home, and furnished us with ten excellent tips for safeguarding mental health in a challenging industry.

You can read Jeremy’s tips below.

• Sleep: Our brain and body needs time to reboot and restore themselves so give them a break and get some good sleep! Know when you are tired and do something about it. Avoid excessive caffeine. Switch off phones and computers at least an hour before bed.

• Relax: When you feel worried and overwhelmed, consciously make yourself relax. Practice deep breathing techniques – it works for Olympic archers so it can work for you too. Try singing- whenever and wherever. Avoid self-medication with drugs or alcohol – they only accentuate the problems and provide a temporary anaesthetic.

• Share: Speak to someone you trust, share your thoughts and feelings – speaking to people in person is a way to stay sane.  If something is troubling you, write it down and share it, even with a pet! 

• Exercise: Taking exercise gets oxygen and endorphins into our brains and ward off depression and anxiety. Walk, run and jump…cycle, swim for 20mins everyday. Physical activity is a great outlet for frustration. Take some time out to play!

• Give Thanks: Appreciate what you have, not what you don’t. Do something for someone else.  Remind yourself daily of the good things that you do. Don’t make life a constant battleground – agree with someone.

• Control/Anger: It can be helpful to remember that Anger is based on fear that one is losing control. Manage your time, have a routine, plan ahead and get organised. Attempt to do only three things, no more. Once you have done those, add another three to the list. If it is all a bit much and you are overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to say no.