The health and fitness industry has certainly seen it’s fair share of uncertainty and pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each stage of the pandemic has brought a different set of challenges. At times there were forced closures, other times there were mask mandates and social distancing to uphold and then labour shortages. Whilst the people in this industry can be a very resilient bunch, the last thing anyone needed was a significant rise in interest rates and the cost of living to add to the mix.
Financial pressure can cause stress, feelings of being overwhelmed, hopelessness and raise concerns around what to do next. If you are currently experiencing financial duress here are some practical tips to help you manage your wellbeing during this time:
1. Don’t ignore the problems. If you are currently experiencing financial issues, they are unlikely to disappear of their own accord, in fact, they are likely to escalate. Escalating financial pressures will only cause more stress and pressure on your wellbeing. Try and address the issues as they arise rather than allowing them to fester.
2. Get support. In times of financial crisis, the support you seek does not have to be solely related to finances. Identify your wellbeing support network and make use of them. Talk to your trusted friends/relatives or seek out counselling to assist you to manage your wellbeing during this time.
3. Make use of as many resources as you can. AUSactive has a collection of resources available in the business toolkit you can access via the members area. https://professionalhub.fitness.org.au/members/dashboard/login If you are unsure how to access those resources, contact the Customer Service Team.
4. Take some time each day to recognise the things that are going well for you. When you face challenges, it is easy to filter out the positives and focus on the challenges. Whilst it is unhelpful to ignore the challenges, it is also unhelpful to ignore your strengths and successes.
If your business is registered in Victoria you can make use of the free business support services the State Government has in place. For those experiencing financial difficulties in business there is FREE financial counselling. For business owners who need some individual guidance on the position of your business and how to create a business plan moving forward there is FREE tailored advice available. More information is available at www.partnersinwellbeing.org.au
For all states and territories outside of Victoria, check with your State Government website for local support programs available.
If you, your family or staff require wellbeing support or counselling you can contact me, Kathleen, on 0456 380 307 or at [email protected]. I am AUSactive’s dedicated mental health clinician and offer a range of services including counselling, wellbeing training for staff and a variety of other mental health consultancy services which are all FREE of charge to AUSactive members. Don’t forget to visit https://ausactive.org.au/news-updates/mindful-messages/ for more wellbeing articles and resources.
