I know you're used to seeing me write in my monthly column about books, content, marketing, the digital world, and so on. But this time, no… this time I'm going to take the liberty of talking about another subject, one that I consider just as important as business itself. We've talked a lot about AI, but sometimes I think we're neglecting urgent human issues.
It may be impossible to separate business from this equation, and it may be precisely because of business that we need to talk even more about this topic: mental health. I want to take advantage of the fact that I turned 39 last week, with 20 years of career, 12 of them in content, and tie it to all the discussions that have arisen around the Olympics and the mental health of athletes... those who didn't make it and those who overcame the challenges.
Birthdays are always a time to reflect on what has passed and what we want for the future, and I believe that this balance between work and life outside of it is a one-way road. My birthday week ended with a Natiruts concert (a famous Brazilian band), with lyrics like: "Take with you only what is good, may the summer of your smile never end." It may seem trivial, but it has a huge impact.
I grew up in a generation that was openly encouraged to work until they dropped, to not sleep enough ("sleep is for the weak, sleep when you're dead"), and to measure success by the size of the bank account. This makes less and less sense.
We need to work and make an effort, yes, because without that, nothing happens. But we also need to know when to alternate that with something that nurtures and recharges us. We need to sleep, at least 8 hours a day, because that's what allows us to have a productive and energized day. And we need to learn to measure success with other metrics that aren’t just a full bank account.
Along with this, I'm rereading an incredible book written by psychiatrist Arthur Guerra and publicist Nizan Guanaes, titled "Can You Bear Being Happy?". It talks precisely about the - necessary - balance between personal and professional life, leisure and work, and so on. If you haven't read it yet, read it!
As a cultural industry, I think it's almost an obligation to contribute to helping people have more information, examples, and stories about the importance of looking at mental health with the same seriousness as we look at a broken arm, an inflamed lung, or a heart with clogged arteries.
But I think this is not just about providing information, but also about looking at ourselves as an industry and realizing what more we can do. I'm proud to work for and be a partner in a company where we look at this with the same dedication and importance as we look at financial goals. I think we've already understood that companies are people... and if you're not taking care of them, you're doing it wrong!
So, please, take care of yourself! It's very easy to be swallowed by urgent demands, by a routine full of tasks. Forgetting to drink water, sleeping little, putting off physical exercise. But either you make time for yourself, or there will come a time when you won't have time for what’s left.
Everyone has their way of doing this, but it's important to discover yours. Whether it's consuming positive content, putting on some sneakers and going for a walk, getting off your phone earlier, and going to sleep without it… there are so many possibilities, and only you will know what's best for you.
But one thing is certain: without mental health, there is no career, no business, no success. So in the end, this is a business article after all :)
See you next month!
Comments