10th June 2025 Stress

A special thanks to DMH Stallard LLP for supporting us.

Dear Readers:

Stress can be good or bad - they both impact our wellbeing but in very different ways.

In 2023/24, [bad] stress, depression, or anxiety accounted for 49% of all work-related ill-health and 54% of working days lost due to such health issues in the past year, according to the Health & Safety Executive.

We experience [good] stress when we are mentally engaged, exercising, feeling energised and excited. It's “a short-term change in our bodies that helps us to feel prepared, energised, and ready to perform at our best” - see article on ‘Good Stress’ below.

This newsletter explores stress from all angles. Enjoy!

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Katherine x

Stress

Thriving on Stress - interview with an MD from a large Investment Bank.

Building Resilience: How to Cope with Stress - an article by Resilience Development Co.

Good Stress - why it is important to embrace the good stuff.

YOO MUSE News

YOO MUSE Mentorship & Wellbeing Programme - a unique blend of career mentorship and wellbeing support for financial services professionals.

YOO MUSE Jobs Board - the jobs board which only lists positions by firms which are committed to employee wellbeing.

Thriving on Stress.

We often talk about managing and avoiding stress but, when it comes to our chosen professions, some people are suited for the high-stress, high-pressured jobs.

In our interview with a Managing Director of a large investment bank, we get his perspective on stress at the office.

The views of the interviewee are his own, and not of his employer.

Investment Banks have a reputation for having a tough work culture, involving very long hours and extortionate expectations. How do the people that work at them manage to avoid burn-out, and instead thrive on stress and high pressure?

Financial markets are fast-paced and high-intensity. Global markets operate around the clock. With every bit of new information financially impacting someone, somewhere, Investment Banks are right in the middle of it all. Where there is money to be made, or saved, it is usually the first mover who has the advantage! In that sense, financial markets are inherently competitive and efficient, and so firms that want to operate and excel within them, must also be. So, the reputation is probably fair.

Having worked in Investment Banking for over 20 years now, I have seen the public perceptions of Investment Banks change. When I first joined, the hard-working culture was a source of pride, not least for those that made it through the highly competitive graduate recruitment processes. Post the financial crisis, public opinion towards banks, and bank culture, soured. Now, banks compete with tech’ firms for talent, emphasising output-over-hours and smarter-over-harder. In this sense expectations have changed but despite this, working practices have remained relatively consistent, driven more by the pace of the environment we operate, and, to a large extent, the people drawn to work in that environment.

Operating longer-term in a high pressure and stressful environment relies on re-framing, rather than avoiding, pressure and stress. You have to learn quickly to operate within the environment, benefit from it and build resilience to it.

In particular:

Ruthless prioritisation: not everything is equally important; start every day with clear understanding of what is highest priority, but be flexible for that to change; accept that some things on your list will not get done

Manage expectations: managing high expectations and managing someone's unrealistic expectations are different things - do both; be realistic in setting expectations; communicate constantly

Good decisions, not perfect decisions: no decision will ever be perfect, strive to make good decisions; know what ‘good enough’ looks like and settle for it; apply the 80:20 rule

Accept and learn from failures: failures will happen when pushing for success, learn from them and move on - don’t dwell on them

Work as a team, known when to recharge: no one can operate at 100% all of the time - know when to lean on others, and know when you need to recharge

Change is the only constant: learn to embrace change, be excited by innovation, keep learning and adapt

Do you think firms like Investment Banks [with reference to the culture] exist because they appeal to a portion of the workforce who need high pressure and stress to remain fully engaged and thrive?

Absolutely. High-pressure environments like Investment Banks act almost like a natural filter: people who are drawn to that pace and intensity tend to be highly competitive, curious, and mission-driven. For them, high stakes aren't draining -they're stimulating.

In your opinion, is it possible for Investment Banks to see the same levels of performance in a lower stress environment eg. could an Investment Bank succeed at the same level within a 40 hour week?

It’s unlikely. As in any competitive environment, similar to elite sport, outcomes are a function of mindset, training, innovation but also the time invested in pursuing a competitive edge. There will always be someone willing to work the extra hour. That said, efficiency and work-life balance have become a bigger priority in recent years. There’s been progress toward smarter working, not just longer working—but the industry still values those willing to give more when it matters.

Have you personally struggled with stress at work? How do you manage that?

Yes, of course. I think we are all wired to find stress no matter how much it’s normalised in the working environment. It is therefore incredibly important to understand what drives stress for you, which is different for everyone, and to have strategies to manage it on a day-to-day basis, as well as over a longer time horizon.

Probably the most important lesson I have learned is that if something is causing you stress, then tackle it head-on. Stress festers in your body and mind, so letting it sit unaddressed is very detrimental and only perpetuates or exaggerates the underlying issues. Stresses rarely resolve themselves. Understanding and tackling the source of stress not only starts the process of finding solutions, but it also helps build confidence in your ability to manage stressful situations, build coping mechanisms and potentially give you the tools to turn stressful situations into strengths.

Similarly, there is great truth in "a problem shared being a problem halved”. Managers and co-workers can often help navigate difficulties and mentors/friends/family can help give perspective.

I have also learnt over time to compartmentalise stress better. I try not to stress about things I cannot control and try to leave work stresses at work.

What advice would you give to a new joiner at an Investment Bank to ensure they prioritised their physical and mental health whilst working in a high pressure, high stress environment?

The advice I give to my analysts is that the industry will take whatever you are prepared to give it. What everyone is prepared to give is different and therefore even the best intentioned manager will struggle to get it right. Even as someone who has been willing in my own career to go 'above and beyond’ in pursuit of progression, I am always conscious that I 'work to live’, so long working hours need to be carefully balanced with dedicating time to my family, friends and interests. Over time you come to realise that it’s finding the right balance that sustains you. That doesn’t mean that you always get it right - there are times when work overtakes personal life and there are times when work has to flex to support our family - but the key is to find the right equilibrium over time.

Building Resilience: How to Cope with Stress.

When faced with stress, we often seek immediate relief. However, wouldn’t it be even better to equip ourselves with the skills to manage stress before it overwhelms our minds and bodies?

This is where resilience comes in. Building resilience enables us to proactively care for our mental health and prevent stress from taking control of our lives. This article will explore how resilience can help us cope with stress and provide practical strategies for developing resilience in our daily lives.

You can read the article here: Building Resilience: How to Cope with Stress

By Jon Watkins, Resilience Development Co.

Good Stress.

Sometimes, stress can actually be a good thing. We feel eustress (good stress) before an important pitch or presentation.

“When we feel good stress, our heart rate increases, our breathing rate increases, and we feel a thrill of excitement.”

Read the article in full and embrace the good stress in your life!

Here’s a thought….

YOO MUSE Mentorship & Wellbeing Programme

A unique blend of career mentorship and wellbeing support, helping professionals in the financial services industry to achieve both their personal and career goals.

🌟Free to financial services (or legal/accounting services) professionals

🌟Mentor & Wellbeing Champions are independent from your organisation

🌟A unique blend of career mentorship and wellbeing support

🌟Networking opportunities with peers who also care about wellbeing

🌟Join a community of like-minded people

YOO MUSE Jobs Board

The jobs board which only lists positions by firms which are committed to employee wellbeing.

For the job seeker:

As a financial services professional, you can apply for open vacancies in the knowledge that the jobs are posted by firms who support a healthy and positive work environment.

For the job hirer:

If you want to seek your new hires through YOO MUSE, there is just one condition, you will be asked to demonstrate how your firm prioritises a healthy and supportive workplace. Your vacancies will be posted free of charge on our website, in our newsletters and shared on LinkedIn with the YOO MUSE community.

Our Mission

At YOOMUSE we believe that mental and physical health are closely linked, and this plays a huge part in our professional and personal lives. We are passionate about empowering individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing, and believe that the work environment and culture can embrace this notion and benefit massively as a result.

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