Putting Health Before Wealth

GoCompare’s Michael Gearon emphasises the importance of tackling stress and illness

Work and stress can lead to depression, anxiety and illness. In my case, stress three years ago may have been one of the factors that caused me to be diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. After being in and out of hospital while trying to establish my career, I have learnt painful lessons on how to manage stress.

OPEN UP

First of all, the best thing to do is start talking. If you’re comfortable doing so, open up to your family, friends and colleagues. These are the people you spend most of your time with, so it’ll be helpful for both of you to understand what you’re going through. My partner and I talked about my illness regularly and it helped us get through it together. Crohn’s and colitis can be difficult to talk about, even with family, but there are more than 300,000 people that are affected by it, so just remember you are not alone.

IT BEGINS AT HOME

We’re all guilty of spending a bit too much time on our phones or in front of the TV but ensure you take some time to unwind. Getting a good night’s sleep not only helps keep you healthy and well rested, it can also help you deal with stress. Simple tasks like keeping on top of bills, mowing the grass or fixing that leaking tap can improve your well-being.

DON’T PUSH IT