In our special column, ‘Wellness Corner’, Güven Kale, Chief Clinical Officer (CCO), MHSS, highlights that wellness requires a holistic approach that connects the mind, body, and spirit and explains how she managed to find a balance between her personal and business life. Güven lists her favourite activities and interests that have given her the confidence to face difficulties head-on and feel content.
Güven believes that being the daughter of a captain, she has a deeper understanding of the difficulties. She realises that those who work at sea accomplish the seemingly impossible every day, and she is extremely appreciative of everyone who works in this industry.
SAFETY4SEA: What does ‘wellness’ mean to you? What do you do in your everyday life to embrace wellness?
Güven Kale: Maintaining wellness involves being in good condition in five areas: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual. This requires a holistic approach that connects the mind, body, and spirit, so I make sure not to neglect any aspect. I wake up at 7:30 and do Pilates for 40 minutes in the morning before having breakfast and starting work. My partner and I cook together in the evening and then cycle for an hour. As I work from home all day, it is important for me to step out every day in the evenings, and cycle every night as it helps me stay physically and mentally fit.
S4S: What are the two things to do that can make you feel happy after a challenging day?
G.K.: When I spend time socializing with my friends or enjoying quality time with my partner, I find that all my stress disappears, and I feel relaxed.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile well-being investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
G.K.: I relocated to Munich half a year ago and my new home boasts a modest garden. I am currently growing a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, courgettes, and aubergines. Since I work remotely, I can easily tend to my garden between work sessions, which brings me immense satisfaction. The act of nurturing my plants, collecting their yield, and watering them is a welcome respite from my daily worries, allowing me to be present in the moment.
S4S: What do you do to keep a balance between your personal and business life?
G.K.: When I started my job, I had a hard time balancing my personal and professional life, and eventually, they merged into one. Listening to and empathizing with people’s struggles left me mentally and emotionally exhausted. In the end, I experienced fatigue. My body was depleted of vitamins and nutrients, my sleep pattern had changed, and doing pilates daily was not working for me. My supervisor recommended that I adjust my schedule by reducing the number of clients I handle and implementing a cap on working hours and rules for myself. Then, I created a realistic schedule that I could follow. I no longer tried to finish all my tasks at once, but instead spread them out evenly throughout the week. I prioritize my tasks and try my best to stick to my schedule. To avoid overworking myself, I make sure to stop working by 6 pm, unless there is an emergency I have to attend to. Setting these boundaries has helped me to take better care of myself. Moreover, since I started working at Mental Health Support Solutions, I’ve discovered the importance of teamwork. My colleagues’ support has been invaluable in helping me manage my responsibilities. It’s a refreshing change to work alongside clinicians who share the same passion and commitment to working.
S4S: What new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your personal life in the last five years?
G.K.: Over the past five years, my personal life has undergone a remarkable transformation, bringing positive changes and fulfillment. When I first moved to Italy, I felt lonely and struggled to adjust to my new surroundings. I started practicing Pilates to combat this, which quickly became integral to my daily routine. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I found myself confined to my apartment in Bergamo for three months. To pass the time, I began gardening and cultivating tomatoes, cucumbers, and various flowers in large vases on my balcony. Gardening became a fulfilling hobby for me and still is until this day. Following the completion of my master’s program in Italy, I made the decision to work in Germany. Despite not knowing anyone and not speaking the language, I settled there with my boyfriend, and we now live together in Munich. The city is blessed with an abundance of mountains and lakes. As a result, I have developed a new hobby of going for long walks, hiking, and climbing in the breathtaking scenery every weekend. This helps me feel fulfilled and prepares me for the upcoming work week. My recent decision to move to Germany and the hobbies I discovered in the past years have truly enriched my life. Not only have they allowed me to navigate challenges with resilience, but they have also brought a profound sense of happiness and fulfilment to my daily life.
S4S: What is the one thing that you are feeling grateful for at the moment?
G.K.: As a captain’s daughter, I am so grateful to everyone who works in this challenging field. We achieve the impossible every day. I feel very lucky to be in a position where I can learn to understand better the challenges faced at sea and support those in need.
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
