The Highlight Issue 12 'Brighter Days Ahead'

LF LOCKER ROOM F rom the corporate nine to five to the contemporary side hustle, there are endless ways to climb the modern- day career ladder. But with two-thirds of full-time employees * stating they have experienced burnout, occupational stress can make life feel all work and no play. Simon Duffy, founder of men’s skincare giant Bulldog and fresh oral care brand Waken, has managed to strike the balance. But the entrepreneur admits that the journey to launching his businesses wasn’t always smooth sailing: “There have been periods where it’s been all-consuming. It might mean for a couple of nights in a row, I don’t get any sleep because I’m working or worrying,” explains Simon. “When you’re the founder of something, you have a responsibility. But I try to use stress as a positive because if entrepreneurship is what you want to do, you need to nurture your ability to cope with it.” According to physiologist and lifestyle management expert Oliver Patrick, differentiating stress from burnout is essential. “Burnout is characterised by a *Business Health Institute, 2022