Mastering Mental Health in Marketing's "Always-On" World

A look into the "always-on" world of digital marketing and how it impacts the mental health of employees within the industry.

This talk deck, presented at BrightonSEO in September of 2023, goes deep on the mental health and burnout issues seen by employees and employers within digital marketing and offers some practical tips on managing your mental health.

Transcript

1. Mastering Mental Health in Digital Marketing’s Always On World Ryan Jones SEOTesting Speakerdeck.com/ryanatseotesting @RyanJonesSEO
2. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Hi, my name’s Ryan! 󰗝 - Marketing Lead @ SEOTesting - 9th Year Working in Digital Marketing Roles - Spent Time Agency, In-House & Freelance
3. What We’ll Cover ✏ 01 Causes 02 Employees 03 Employers 04 Thoughts @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
5. Story Time… @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
7. This raised some important questions! @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
8. Why on Earth was my phone battery allowed to get down to 9%? 😱 @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
9. Why the f**k was I awake at 2:34 in the morning? 🤔 @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
10. How many people are going through the same thing as us right now? 🤔 @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
11. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *Headspace 80% of all professionals say they experience the “Sunday scaries” on some occasion.
12. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *Headspace Over 90% of Millennials and Gen Z reporting they experience the Sunday scaries on a regular basis.
13. Is this a symptom to a bigger problem? 🤔 @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
15. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *Spill 61% of employees said they left a job or planned to leave a job in the next 12 months due to poor mental health.
16. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *Spill Around 828,000 employees suffer from work-related stress, depression or anxiety every year.
17. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *Spill 17% of employees will struggle with a diagnosed mental health condition this year.
19. The cost to the workplace is massive! 💰 @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
20. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *Spill Poor workplace mental health costs UK employers around £56 billion every year, with a 25% increase since 2019.
21. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *Spill 28% of all sick days taken in the UK are due to poor employee mental health.
22. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *Spill The cost of staff turnover due to poor mental health has increased over 150% in the last three years.
24. So… What causes these issues? Especially for us marketers? @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
25. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Burnout Remote Work Core Updates
26. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Burnout Remote Work Core Updates
28. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Burnout is a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. It's a result of excessive and prolonged emotional, physical, and mental stress. *WebMD
29. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Burnout happens when you're overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to keep up with life's incessant demands. *WebMD
30. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO But there’s another form of burnout we should be concerned about…
32. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Burnout in the course of employment can make one feel emotionally drained and unable to function in the context of work and other aspects of life. *Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
33. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Career burnout can reduce productivity and can lower your motivation and cause you to feel helpless, hopeless and resentful. *Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
34. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Career-Burnout Causes: - Lack of Control - Schedule, Assignments, Work - Unclear Job Expectations - Dysfunctional Workplace Dynamics - Work / Life Imbalance
35. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO 54% of UK tech employees now work more on weekends and in the evenings than before Covid, and struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
36. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Burnout Remote Work Core Updates
38. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Remote Work Benefits - Less time spent commuting. - Greater flexibility in working hours. - Reduced turnover in staff. - Reduced need for office space.
39. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows!
40. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Drawbacks to Remote Work: - Partial or complete loss, of work/life balance. - Less human interaction. - Delayed response times. - Frequent meetings.
42. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *NHS Wales (299 People Study) 1 in 2 people reported increased feelings of loneliness when working from home.
43. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *NHS Wales (299 People Study) 1 in 2 people stated that working from home had worsened their mental wellbeing.
44. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO *NHS Wales (299 People Study) 1 in 4 people reported that working from home had increased their alcohol consumption.
45. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Burnout Remote Work Core Updates
47. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Marketers are Judged on KPIs - Organic Clicks & Impressions - On-Page Metrics - Conversion Rates - Revenue & Profit
49. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
50. What can we, as employees, do to improve our mental health? @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
51. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Put your own oxygen mask on first.
53. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO We can’t help our managers, teams and other colleagues to the best of our abilities if we’re not 100% ourselves.
54. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Humans are great at picking up the stress of others. If we’re burned out, it will spread to the wider team.
55. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Sometimes, pulling back and focussing on ourselves can help us become better employees and managers.
56. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Build & maintain a healthy work / life balance.
58. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Implement a “Shut Down” ritual, at the end of the day to tell your brain that you have finished work.
59. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO For crying out loud… Take your lunch break. You’re entitled to it, use it! The same goes for your holidays, too.
60. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Find something outside of work to engage in. Having something to look forward to makes disconnecting easier.
62. FFS! Why do I do this to myself?
63. What about employers? Can they help support our mental health, too? @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
65. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Be a leader, not a boss. Lead by example.
66. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Remember what I said about staff using their holidays? Yes, this applies to you, too!
68. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO It’s not just about what you do as an individual, though.
69. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO It’s also about what your company does for your employees.
71. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Provide appropriate training, on the job support and mentoring schemes for your staff (and you, too).
72. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO If you don’t already have one, create a mental health policy for yourself and your staff to adhere to.
73. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO Create a culture of support and understanding around mental health issues. Don’t shy away from tough talks.
75. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO - Mental Health Policy from Barnsley Borough Council: https://t.ly/e5hPJ - Mental Health Training from Mind: https://t.ly/9Vlob (eLearning Courses, Virtual Training & More) - Headspace: https://t.ly/dmiGC Meditation App - Starting at £4.17 per Month
77. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO It’s not just about the little things. But the little things go a long way!
78. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
79. Some Final Thoughts @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
80. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO - Mental health at work is in focus more than it ever has been, which is an incredibly good thing! - Now that remote work is the norm for a lot of people, we need to start taking mental health at work more seriously. - If left to fester, burnout can spread from one team member through to the rest of your team.
82. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO - Taking your lunch break, taking holidays and not working after 5pm should be the bare minimum, not just the norm. - There are plenty of resources out there for employers who want to help staff better manage their mental health. - If you’re a manager, set the example by doing these things yourself. Don’t set a bad example for staff to follow.
83. I want to leave you with one final point… @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
84. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO You can still be a great SEO / Digital Marketer / Business Owner, without spending all of your time at work and burning yourself out.
85. @RyanJonesSEO // @seo_testing #BrightonSEO
86. Connect With Me! 󰛈 Twitter (X) - @RyanJonesSEO LinkedIn - /Ryan-G-Jones/ seotesting.com speakerdeck.com/ryanatseotesting