Taking Care

Every year, on Oct. 10, #WorldMentalHealthDay hashtags flood our social media timelines with information and personal stories about mental health. As a society, we’re encouraged to practice self-care — and we should. But, for many of us, yoga and pedicures aren’t enough (nor do we have the hours, money or support to fit them in). As someone who’s lived with major depression and anxiety for most of my adult life, I’m drawn to the cause and am all for breaking the stigma, because as the saying goes, “Health is wealth.” That includes mental health.

A recent series of tweets I read resonated with me. They come from Sophie Vershbow, a writer with a professional background in the publishing field. She posts:

From 2017 to early 2022 I did a full-time job, social media consulting and freelance writing. And now that I no longer consult, I have a phantom work limb and constantly feel like I should be doing something because for a long time there was always something I should be doing.

Just because there is something I could be doing does not mean I need to be doing it. Just because there is something I could be doing does not mean I need to be doing it. Just because there is something I could be doing does not mean I need to be doing it.

Anyways, our brains are broken. Happy World Mental Health Day.

Seems relatable, right? We’ve officially reached fourth quarter peak madness. Now is traditionally when we’re pulling all-nighters to meet major year-end deadlines, finalizing upcoming strategies and maybe questioning if it’s all worth it in those late (or early-morning) hours. I thought about this as I worked on Print+Promo Marketing’s Top Suppliers/Supplier Excellence Awards issue. These pages are filled with people who’ve been navigating their way through inflation, inventory shortages, health uncertainties and more. Even as we finalized interviews with some of our top-ranked suppliers, those located in Florida were bracing for Hurricane Ian — all while overseeing their business, caring for their teams and answering our questions.

Despite these last few years of constant change, which can be enough to spiral anyone, there’s the obvious unifying theme of resiliency. Loyalty is another one at play. Standing by those who have stood by you during hard times is admirable for sure. It’s something we’re celebrating throughout this magazine. But when you’re operating on autopilot to get ALL THE TASKS DONE, it can be easy to forget about boundaries in work and home life. And when boundaries are neglected, our mental health suffers.

That’s all part of a larger conversation to be had as a society. In the interim, we’ll continue to give our best effort because we take pride in the meaningful work we do. But remember to slow down, check in with yourself and know that it’s OK to say more than “I’m fine” if you’re not — #WorldMentalHealthDay aside. Your customers will thank you.