How PROs stay healthy despite attending countless Christmas parties

Wining and dining clients and contacts may be good for building relationships, but is not so great for waistlines. Yet, according to a recent survey by healthcare cash-plan provider Medicash looking at the health of 3,000 workers, PR people are counteracting their fine dining with healthy living. The good news is that PR topped the chart as one of the healthiest professions. The research pinpointed chefs as being the least healthy workers while those working in advertising, marketing, media and PR are the most healthy. Workers in this sector smoke an average of nine cigarettes and sip six alcoholic drinks a week (compared with chefs’ 58 cigarettes and eight alcoholic drinks). Peter Lauris, sales and marketing director at Medicash describes how the study highlights how people's jobs can have a negative impact on their lifestyle if it results in them eating poorly and drinking and smoking too much. However, PROs should not feel too smug just yet, as with Christmas fast approaching, many will find themselves at events that are overflowing with alcohol and whose food offerings pack more fat than vitamins.

Ross Cathcart, senior director at Ogilvy PR London, says he finds that as the pre-Christmas season is probably one of the busiest times for anyone working in PR, it is important to boost energy levels. He explains: “As well as the usual pre-Christmas drinks with colleagues, clients and journalists, you've typically got an awful lot of planning work going on for next year. At the same time there are always a lot of pitches and new business requests, something I call the ‘transfer season‘. One thing's for sure, you need a lot of stamina to work in PR before Christmas."

It is therefore important for PROs to take extra care of their health in the next few weeks. As Medicash’s Lauris points out: 'For those who work in a sector renowned for unsociable hours, they must try to make a conscious effort to be healthy and invest in their health.

Healthy people are more happy and productive.'' One way to counterbalance all the eating and drinking that goes with Christmas entertaining is to find a way to burn off the excess. Jo Jamieson, director at Berkeley PR, describes how she keeps herself on her toes: “For me, it’s about offsetting the extra calories with plenty of exercise. I make sure I leave the office on time twice a week to do a British Military Fitness class, and also run on Saturdays and Sundays. That way, I don’t need to feel guilty about a nice lunch or a few cheeky gin and tonics.”

Despite seasonal entertaining, anyone who thinks PROs are bon viveurs are living in the past. As Jamieson says, “I think the days of plying hacks with booze and fags to secure a story were over a long time ago“. Lucy Kemp, account director at communications consultancy Seal, also agrees that such old-fashioned portrayals of the profession are irrelevant, adding: “Yes we work hard and play hard too, but this doesn’t mean drinking a bucket full of wine after a hard day at the office.” Kemp goes on to describe Seal‘s various fitness regimes (see case study, below), and describes how such healthy activity has helped teams in the agency to bond just as well as an evening at the bar. She adds, “and we’re all looking slightly more toned because of it.”

The agencies that strive to keep all their employees healthy claim that this means that workers are also fitter to do their jobs. Rebecca Douglas, account director at MCG PR, says that her agency believes in healthy minds and healthy bodies because this approach directly benefits clients. She adds: “We all feel loads better when we exercise – whether it's before, during or after work. Even a quick walk at lunchtime clears our heads and helps us focus in the afternoon. I think it does improve the way we work, especially for one of our fitness clients. We are able to empathise with its clients, the programmes it designs, and the member case studies we produce.” But being healthy does not mean doing without treats, as Douglas says, “we are typical girls – we like chocolate every now and again!”

Another benefit of encouraging fitness and health at work is that it can be seen as another perk and will encourage employee loyalty. Kristin Syltevik, managing director of Hotwire PR, says her agency is very committed to helping people stay as fit as they can. She adds: “ It is important for us to help our staff strike a strong work/life balance and we view sporting activities and physical exercise is an essential element of this.”

Case studiesHealthy agencies describe their fitness regimes.

Berkeley PR:The agency actively encourages an agency philosophy of being active: “At Berkeley, several staff are keen runners, gym bunnies or netball players – and we’ve competed together in team events such as Commando Challenge.”

Seal Communications:“We have formed a merry band of fitness fans to take part in PE Wednesday. We kicked off the summer season with ultimate frisbee in the park – lungs full of fresh air rather than fag smoke. Currently, due to weather issues we’ve taken to indoor pursuits such as badminton or rock climbing.”

MCG PR:“We have an official 'MCG running club' where members have so far completed three half marathons. Training at least twice a week the team pound the pavements of North Leeds all in a bid to beat their personal bests and work off the daily stresses and strains. For those who don’t want to batter adverse weather conditions (because come rain or shine the team run) a David Lloyd membership is part of the MCG package and you can often find our team in the pool for an early morning swim.

“But it's not just traditional exercise that is promoted. We have taken the dream of the ‘Good Life’ that bit further. It started when we adopted two hens, we then went on to make use of the disused land next to our office. Rubble and ruin sums it up, but we decided to make the most of it and create some raised beds, planting a variety of vegetables and herbs. We all now enjoy fresh tasty greens (and reds, yellows and pinks) with our lunches and the team are encouraged to weed and maintain the garden, which again is good, old-fashioned exercise in itself.”

Hotwire PR:“We offer a number of schemes designed to encourage staff to keep fit and healthy and even have a ‘Hot Living’ taskforce within the agency specifically charged with this task. Among the initiatives it co-ordinates are:

• Regular walk-to-work initiatives, which encourages all employees to walk some (or all) of the way from their home to work
• A running club that sets out from the office to run around Clerkenwell every Tuesday evening

“Healthy living is also integrated into company policy via the annual health and wellbeing allowance for all members of staff. This can used towards any activity which helps individuals to maintain their healt