Strictly’s Amy Dowden shows how difficult balancing your health and career can be
The dancer has taken a week off to recover after a health scare on Saturday
It can be easy to feel pressured to prioritise your career over every other aspect of your life, especially during busy periods.
Yet, this success and drive should never be at the expense of your mental or physical health and it’s important to take time off and rest when needed too.
After reportedly collapsing after the live show on Saturday night, Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed that Amy Dowden will not be performing in the series this week, but taking a week off to recover. Instead, professional dancer Lauren Oakley will take her place with her celebrity partner, JB Gill.
The 34-year-old returned to the series after battling with cancer for the past two years, before getting the all clear earlier this year. On Saturday night, she was taken away in an ambulance but the BBC have confirmed that she is “doing much better” and they are “hopeful” that Amy will be back on the dance floor soon after some rest.
It comes after several celebrities have spoken out about cancelling work commitments due to their health, such as Carol Vorderman stepping down from her weekend radio show due to burnout as Fearne Cotton opened up about why she left BBC Radio 2 due to the impact on her mental health.
Stressful and demanding jobs can often take a toll on our health and wellbeing, which is why rest and recovery is so important.
Clinical psychologist and mental health expert at Headspace, Dr Sophie Mort says: "Without our health - both physical and mental - achieving success in any area of our lives is nearly impossible. When we let our well-being take a back seat, it becomes incredibly challenging to thrive in our careers.
"By putting our health first, we can not only bring a more engaged and productive version of ourselves to our work, but also recognise the importance of seeking fulfilment and joy beyond our careers too."
Yet, recent research from NatWest found that nearly half of all workers in the UK don’t use all of their entitled annual leave, leaving up to a 5 days of paid holiday left at the end of the year.
Heathline have found that even 5 minutes of personal time on a busy, stressful day can help reduce the symptoms of stress such as low energy, low self-esteem, headaches, fatigue. Imagine how recharged and refreshed you would feel after a week.
Equally, if your body is giving you physical signs that something is wrong, such as fainting, headaches, a new lump, then it’s always best to book a GP appointment and have an investigation into what’s going on. Don’t delay looking into any health issues due to pressures, commitments or expectations at work.
In some circumstances, it isn’t possible to quit your job or cancel an important (but anxiety-inducing) meeting due to financial pressures, instead there are ways to introduce more intentional rest and recovery around your job.
Dr Mort adds: "If it’s not possible to change the environment we work in easily, there are some practices we can put in place to ensure we’re operating in a way that prioritises balance such as set and communicate clear boundaries, prioritise rest, talk to someone and find allies at work.”
Equally, speak to your manager about potential support in-house for your mental health or accommodations for your physical health such as more time working from home or flexible working.
If you are feeling overwhelmed or ill due to your workload, Forbes recommends to sit down and prioritise what is non-negotiable in both your professional and personal life, so you’re putting effort into the areas that make the most difference to you.
Mind suggest to book time in the evenings for meditation, starting a new hobby or scheduling in an exercise class or walk. Taking care of yourself will not only benefit your health, but your work long-term too.
Read more about Amy Dowden:
How to prioritise recovery after cancer treatment (Yahoo Life, 4-min read)
Strictly's Amy Dowden "feeling much better" after post-show hospital trip (Digital Spy, 2-min read)
What we know as Amy Dowden to miss Strictly after health scare (Yahoo Entertainment, 5-min read)
