Many a young manager will have experienced these factors, which could and would affect their health and wellbeing.
The turning point for me came when I spoke to an Australian triathlete just before I left Bournemouth in 1994.
His advice was pretty blunt and straightforward. He told me doing my job was physically hampering my own fitness levels – but more worrying were the stress levels that came with it, because they could have a major effect on my life itself.
It was only after having that conversation that I realised the compromises I was making for my career at the cost of my own health.
I came to the conclusion that in my next job, if I got one, I would dedicate myself to a more manageable lifestyle and put my own fitness first.
I decided I would work out early every morning before breakfast at the club I managed, so I could then dedicate the rest of my day to my work.
Yes, there were days I would be empty and would only walk and stretch, but generally I stuck to that rule and worked hard to keep on top of myself physically.
At Gillingham in 1999, I decided to run a marathon – my first London Marathon – which got me focused during the season in respect of my physical health.
That was my first challenge of many I have taken on for charity down the years. I have also cycled from John O’ Groats to Land’s End, walked up Mount Kilimanjaro, and rowed from Tower Bridge to the Eiffel Tower.
All of this exercise also helped my stress levels, especially in respect of sleeping. Being tired going to bed really helped my sleeping hours and meant I was never kept awake worrying about what was going wrong at work.
There were other ways I looked after my mental health too. Even as the internet exploded, I have never read any press, good or bad, about me or my team.
I always worked as hard I could at every club I was with, and picked good staff who I was able to confide in, but I was able to switch off too, thanks to my family.
I’ve written in previous columns about my routine after games and how I would often drive home to the south coast on a Saturday night, reflecting on our result and starting my preparation for our next game.
But Sundays were always about spending all day with the family.
Whether it was watching my son Anthony playing football as a young boy, or just being around the children full stop, that was how I relaxed and that day with them became a release valve which was an important part of my routine.
