Crew Wellbeing
For all that we gain working on super yachts, there is a price to pay. The job has its own set of challenges. It is a demanding work environment, requiring long hours, extremely high standards and living in close quarters with others. The lines between work and free time are often blurred making it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Many 'yachties' burn out, lose friends or lovers, and lose themselves because they haven't been able to find the balance.
In order to thrive while working on super yachts, it's important to know how to maintain a work-life balance. In today's post, we offer actionable advice on how to do just that, with a focus on maintaining long-distance relationships, spending time on hobbies and self-love, and managing your time effectively.
How to Maintain Long-Distance Relationships in yachting
In most industries people don't have to think too much about maintaining their relationships outside of work because they naturally see those people regularly. In yachting you have to make time in your schedule to stay in contact with friends and family.
Long-distance relationships aren't limited to romantic partners; they also include friends and family back home. These people represent who you are outside of yachting. Maintaining these relationships helps give you perspective, reminding you that there's a world outside of work. I personally struggle with this. I often get too close to the job and become stressed, placing too much importance on the job. When I make a call to a friend outside of yachting, I gain perspective—there's a wide world outside of work.
To maintain these long-term relationships, understanding and communication are crucial
Understanding: It's important for your friends, family, or partner to have some understanding of the demands of the yachting world. I often go days or weeks without replying to messages (sorry, friends!) because I am working 12-16 hour days and being consumed by work. It's crucial to explain to your loved ones that the job can be all-consuming, and sometimes you won't be able to reply to a message for a while. When you do have a moment, make sure to reply and explain that things have been busy.
Communication: Be sure to allocate free time for calling people and connecting. A 5-minute video call once a week is better than an hour-long call once a month. This requires an active approach because free time is sparse. So, when you have it, be intentional about contacting people back home.
By focusing on understanding and communication, you can maintain strong connections with your loved ones, even while working in the demanding world of yachting.
The Importance of Hobbies and Self-Love
Given the time consuming nature of yachting, it is easy to lose touch with personal interests and self-care. The benefits of spending time on yourself are often overlooked. These practices are crucial to maintaining a healthy work-life balance as well as overall well-being.
Engaging in your hobbies provides a creative outlet and a way to unwind and decompress from the demands of work. I love photography and try to take any opportunity to go out and shoot. I love arriving in new countries and exploring on my own with my camera. This time helps me destress and focus on something I love. It clears my mind of work and life onboard and brings my attention to myself and my surroundings. Make it a priority to spend time on your hobbies regularly.
What is Self-Love in yachting?
Often in yachting we get physically and mentally tired. The job requires long hours and a lot of patience when it comes to crew and guests. It is important to recognise that going through this is taxing on the mind and body.
Practising self-love is about treating yourself with kindness and respect, acknowledging your needs, and taking steps to meet them. It involves setting aside time for self-care activities like meditation, yoga, or simply reading a book. It's also about recognizing your achievements, no matter how small, and forgiving yourself for mistakes. Self-love encourages you to prioritise your well-being, which is crucial for thriving at work.
The next time you get some free time, think before you head straight for the bar. Ask yourself what you really need.
How to better Manage your time on Super yachts
Time management is a vital skill for anyone working on yachts. It is a fast paced environment and requires that every minute is spent effectively, including your down time. By setting boundaries, and actively managing your down time, you can ensure that you are prioritising your well-being and maintaining work-life balance.
Be sure to set boundaries with your crew when it comes to what you need. Learn to say no to a crew night out when you know that you need some alone time or you need to call a friend back home. Respect your own down-time, when you are allocated down time, try not to think about job lists and the upcoming work period (and then let me know how you do this!).
Conclusion
Working on super yachts is one of the most rewarding industries out there; the array of experiences is incomparable. The hard work we put in is the price we have to pay for living this fast-paced and adventurous lifestyle, and it's a price I am willing to pay over and over again. However, to avoid burnout, you must actively manage your time. Achieving a work-life balance in the super yachting industry is not as difficult as many people think; it just requires that you are intentional about your time.
In this case, you can have it all: you can have an amazing job on a super yacht and you can maintain a healthy work-life balance.
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