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Young professionals from across the country were invited to join a host of Scotland’s media personalities and business entrepreneurs at Easy Wins Live this week, part of Royal Bank of Scotland’s drive to help young people manage their finances with greater ease.

The free and informal panel discussion, which took place at Edinburgh’s Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, delved into the unique pressures faced by young people to appear to be ‘always on’, the impacts of social media, managing work/life balance effectively and suggesting tips on how to develop ‘easy wins’ and creating social breathing space.

Humanitarian and reality TV star Camilla Thurlow; founder of Abandon Ship Apparel Richard Davies; and Glasgow beauty entrepreneur Tammy Koslowski were joined by journalist and podcaster Emma Gunavardhana who hosted the Easy Wins Live event.

Camilla Thurlow

Edinburgh-born Camilla shot to fame overnight after a stint on reality TV following a career as a bomb disposal expert. Since then, she has had to learn how to balance her demanding work schedule, personal and family life while continuing her passion for charity.

Camilla said: “Having experienced a rapid rise in my personal profile recently, maintaining a work/life balance is something which has become increasingly important for me. From managing a demanding work schedule to finding time for my charity work, there are many aspects for me to balance.

“Social media is a wonderful tool which has allowed me to connect with so many new people but it can also create a sense of pressure to be constantly available. It’s important to create a bit of breathing space and make time for yourself.”

Richard Davies

Dundee based Richard Davies, Director of Abandon Ship Apparel, an art and lifestyle focused clothing brand, joined the panel to talk about the challenges he has faced developing his business, splitting with his business partner, suffering from imposter syndrome and feeling a responsibility towards his social network following and its impact on his mental health.

Richard said: “In today’s world it is easy to get drawn into feeling that you need to constantly compete with others both in business and on a personal level. You can see just how common these feelings are through the increased awareness around topics such as mental health and imposter syndrome.

“Taking the time to focus on yourself will give you the best chance of success in the long run. You’re the best version of yourself when you’re happy.”

Tammy Koslowski

Business owner and entrepreneur Tammy Koslowski has built her beauty brand NAF. She started as a nail technician and launched NAF Salon two years ago, and is now expanding the NAF brand into online and in-store merchandise through her line, NAF Stuff, based in Glasgow.

Tammy said: “It’s all about finding balance. As a business owner, achieving personal and professional goals simultaneously can be difficult. Social media has been a fantastic tool for me to build a brand and connect with my clients but it can also create some challenges.

“Focusing on the positives and everything you have achieved can help to provide a little headspace and remind you that you don’t have to be ‘always on’.”

 

Pressure to be available in today’s connected world

During the discussion each speaker recounted their stories of success and what they learned along the way, and explored the pressure to be available in today’s constantly connected world. They also provided their personal tips for managing it all alongside a money expert from the Royal Bank who was there to offer advice and tips on managing a busy lifestyle with greater ease. 

The Easy Wins Live event followed research from the Royal Bank which showed that one in four Scottish 25-34-year-olds admit to finding it difficult to manage their work-life balance and one in four 18-24-year-olds feel they are always under pressure to answer calls, texts and notifications, compared to 10% of those aged 55+. 

Similarly, the younger generation is struggling the most to oversee their money and sustain their relationships with one in three (32%) for 25-34-year-olds admitting that they struggle to manage their finances and a third of 25-34-year-olds in saying they struggle to make time for their friends. More than one in five (23%) of 25-34-year-olds also admitted struggling with making time for their family or partner.

 

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1003 Scottish adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 12 and 14 February 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Scottish adults (aged 18+).
 
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