‘Meditation has helped a great deal in keeping my mood balanced’

Gold Travel Counsellor Guy Johnson

Running your own business in travel can be as tough as it is terrific. I have a separate “work” space that doesn’t encroach too much into my home. I always carve out time to get up from my desk, enjoy some fresh air, and take a proper lunch break – I often go for a walk and clear my head. The ‘problem’ I left behind seems different when I come back to it with fresh eyes and a new point of view. Of course, long hours can be hard, but the pictures on my office wall help me to remember the rewards that come from it. Meditation has also helped a great deal in keeping my mood balanced, and I found it particularly helpful during the dark and uncertain days of the pandemic.

If you have a bad day (and we all have them!), please do talk. Say it out loud to a friend and don’t bottle it up. Find people or a community that you are as comfy sharing your highs with as you are your lows. “A problem shared….”! And perhaps the most important of all, remember that you are not alone, especially in this amazing industry of ours, and support is out there for you.

‘Embracing the power of being able to say ‘no’ was pivotal for me’

Lindsay-Garvey Jones, national retail manager, Holiday Extras

In 2023, my professional life soared to new heights. Collaborating with our agent partners, revitalising their businesses, and introducing fresh products ignited a sense of fulfilment. However, I also had to rebuild my team and this demanded a robust recruitment process. Introducing our new BDM amidst our usual action packed and lengthy conference and event season was a huge task.

Having extra activity outside of my day job within the industry, for the first time I faced an unexpected challenge: burnout. Despite dedicating some of my time to educating others on this topic throughout the years, I found myself in its grip. Recognising the signs, I quickly prioritised establishing boundaries—a daunting yet transformative task. These boundaries not only fostered balance but also facilitated transparent communication and realistic expectations.

Embracing the power of being able to say ’no’ was pivotal, signalling strength rather than perceived weakness. Effective communication ensured mutual understanding when setting boundaries, ultimately granting me the space to make effective decisions and support those around me. This rejuvenated my passion and capacity to contribute meaningfully as my role has expanded to supporting our partners in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

‘Not spending time scrolling before bed has really improved my sleep health’

Kelly Tolerton, accounts manager, Oasis Travel

 I have got involved quite a lot with mental health in the workplace due to personal experiences outside work with my mum suffering a lot with mental health issues, so if any of my work colleagues needed anyone to talk to I would hope that I would be able to help them due to my experiences.

Prioritise self-care: I love spending time outdoors walking and am usually accompanied by my dog Lola. Sometimes I take music and sometimes I use that time to think and create space for myself. It will hopefully be easier now as we head into the summer months. I also reward myself regularly for a job well done, such as a meal out with family and friends or spending time with my nephews and nieces as they bring me a lot of joy and happiness.

Set clear boundaries between work v home: Simple actions such as taking outlook off my phone, disabling notifications, and not spending time scrolling before bed has really improved my sleep health. I also create a physical boundary between work and home by going into the office every day, plus I like spending time engaging with my colleagues.

Proactively seek growth: If there are mental health workshops, seminars, and training sessions that are organized through work I would always participate and encourage my colleagues to do so. It is a great opportunity to learn strategies and tools that we can then share with our teams should we feel ‘down’, overwhelmed or anxious.

‘Exercise puts me in the right frame of mind to deal with whatever the day throws at me’

Barbara Kolosinska, managing director, C&M Recruitment

I look after my physical and mental wellbeing by having a good work-life balance. I exercise every morning before getting to my desk which puts me in the right frame of mind to deal with whatever the day throws at me. I also meditate, eat well and ensure I always get enough vitamin D and fresh air every day, as well as a good night’s sleep.

Personally, the pandemic taught me a lot. It was the most stressful thing I’ve ever gone through. I didn’t know if we had enough cash in the business to see us through or if I would lose my house because of it – of course it increased my anxiety. But I focused on myself first and the rest followed, ie my team and being a non-drinker really helped me through it.  It’s made me more robust, stronger and efficient and shows that out of everything bad comes something good.  

If I’m having a difficult day, I’ll go out with my dogs and appreciate the nature around me – that always, always helps. If I’m ever stressed, I speak to my husband first and foremost as well as my industry friends, peers and the team because it’s ok to not be ok. We all go through it. It’s good to share – and once you’ve overcome the challenges, it actually makes you more relatable.

‘We can do amazing things if we surround ourselves with the right people’

Becky Wright, managing director, Holidays By Design

After losing my husband in 2015 I knew travel was my happy place. I had a nine-year-old daughter back then and knew that not only did I have to provide for her, I also had the responsibility to show her that even during life’s biggest challenges, we can do amazing things if we surround ourselves with the right people.

In 2017 Holidays by Design was born, together with one of my best friends. From the off it was clear that the work life balance for ourselves and the team was paramount, so we decided to never open Sundays and ensure our team knew Holidays By Design was a loving, enjoyable and safe place to work. In 2019 Eleanor joined us, and she studied at university alongside her role as marketing assistant with me for a degree in counselling studies.

Five years on Eleanor is now a practicing counsellor at a local community interest company as well as at her own private practice which she runs alongside her job here.

We ensure our team feel valued, safe and a part of a great support system. We go out for team meals, enjoy social events together and on a monthly basis all the team get one-on-one time to enable them to chat, offload, and express any needs they may have in terms of support.

Our team get to enjoy nice educational trips and we all love the annual industry awards that take place. The highlight however is when we organise our yearly Christmas team trip and close for a few days during December. Since opening, we have visited Disneyland Paris, London and Edinburgh just to name a few. We usually keep it a surprise until the middle of the year then we do a reveal evening and then spend six months all planning and deciding on our itinerary. 

Holidays By Design had been a saviour in some way for all of us, a happy place that we are all passionate about where we get paid to do the job we love. It is so rewarding to see our team thrive in a healthy, open workspace where mental health is no stigma.