Main causes of stress
I've been a governor in Mountjoy since 1984. A lot of people say to me that it must be the most stressful job. I have to say, I am not at all conscious of stress at work. I suppose if there is a huge incident in the prison it could be stressful, like in 1997 when we had the hostage-taking. But in the run-of-the-mill work, I wouldn't be conscious of stress.
Traffic can be a major factor in stress. If you are rushing to meet a deadline and you are late, it can be very stressful.
Coping with stress
I would never bring the job home with me. That's a conscious decision and it has allowed me to live my life. You have to be able to cut off from your work. You have to discipline yourself. Some people just aren't able to do that so they wake up at night feeling stressed and under pressure.
I am very conscious of physical fitness for the elimination of stress. There is a very clear connection between physical, mental and emotional health. I would jog or run 15 to 20 miles a week and I believe that's very important. Physical exercise is a great release in terms of mental relaxation.
Looking for the positive
Any job is stressful if you don't handle it properly. A lot of it depends on your personality. Some people are worriers by nature. I would be an optimist and that's a very important factor. I always look for the positive side of things because if you look for the negative in a place like a prison, then you are sure to find plenty of it.
So I stay optimistic and I leave work behind me when I go home. I don't wake up at night wondering if the place will fall down.
In conversation with Alison Healy