January 11, 2023

Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health

A Conversation About Mental Health and the Workplace

Season 2 Episode 4

In this episode our co hosts discuss how mental health can be adversely affected by the workplace. They discuss their personal experiences with workplace issues that negatively impacted their mental health. They provide tips on how to recognize when your mental health is being negatively affected due to work related issues and what you can do to help improve your mental health if and when that happens. 

The co-hosts, Xiomara A. Sosa, Victoria Lockridge and Lisa Early have an honest and open discussion regarding mental health and the workplace and invite the listeners to share their stories with them in the comments. 

Following are some points for reference: 

Job burnout symptoms

Ask yourself:

• Have you become cynical or critical at work?
• Do you drag yourself to work and have trouble getting started?
• Have you become irritable or impatient with co-workers, customers or clients?
• Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
• Do you find it hard to concentrate?
• Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
• Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
• Are you using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
• Have your sleep habits changed?
• Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, stomach or bowel problems, or other physical complaints?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be experiencing job burnout. Consider talking to a doctor or a mental health provider because these symptoms can also be related to health conditions, such as depression.

12 tips to improve your work-life balance:

1. Learn to say “no”

2. Take breaks 

Even a 30-second microbreak can:

• Improve concentration
• Reduce stress
• Keep you feeling engaged
• Make your work feel more enjoyable

It’s especially important to be mindful of this when you’re working from home.

3. Use your lunch break

4. Ask for flexibility. Those can include flextime, a compressed workweek schedule, job sharing, and other creative options.

5. Prioritize your health

Recognizing the importance of maintaining your physical health, emotional well-being, and mental fitness is the first step to making it a priority in your life.

Use the concept of habit stacking to build simple, supportive actions into your day. Consider habits like:

• Daily meditation
• Movement/exercise 
• Social connection
• A gratitude practice
• Committing to using your paid time off
• 
  

6. Practice self-compassion

One of the most important ways to achieve a sense of work-life balance is to let go of perfectionism. The approach of perfectionism may have brought some success during school and early career. But the stress it causes accumulates over time. The strain on our system and emotional resources increases as our responsibilities increase.

It’s important to recognize that life isn’t always easy. Recognizing this truth allows you to create a shift toward a more compassionate growth-and-learning approach to work and life. This can help to support a sense of balance. It can also provide an inspiring model for others who also need to hear this message.

Ways you can improve your work-life balance at home.

7. Communicate boundaries so you can truly unplug

Set and communicate your work hours to your colleagues and customers so that you have clear boundaries. This should include when you’ll work and when you won’t be available to respond.

8. Invest in relationships

Lack of strong relationships increases the risk of premature death from all causes by 50%. That’s nearly as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

On the flip side, solid connections and social support can improve health and increase longevity. Make sure to spend your time nurturing relationships that matter to you. If you took the previous steps to unplug, then you’ll be able to give more attention to the people you spend your time with.

9. Make space in your schedule for family time

Block out some time that’s devoted entirely to your family.

10. Prioritize quality time

Rather than spreading yourself so thin that nothing feels satisfying, identify what’s truly important to you.

11. Start small

Healthier behaviors can support your sense of personal well-being. These could be behaviors like staying active and or improving your eating habits. But those habits can be difficult to establish.

12. Ask for help

High-achieving professionals are often guilty of taking everything on themselves. They don't want to “bother” anyone by asking for help. Instead, consider that asking for help gives other people the gift of giving — and being part of a solution and support system. This builds the benefits of mutual relationships for all involved.

As always, Studio Talk Podcast encourages their listeners to provide feedback, comments as well as their opinions and experiences about their own experiences with major life transitions that impacted their mental health. The discussion offers resources and references for listeners to review and examine and listeners are encouraged to do their own research and draw their own conclusions about the issues discussed. As with most issues, there are negatives and positives found and the co-hosts recognize that as reality and have an honest conversation about it.

Subscribe on these podcast platforms https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/ 

Submit your request for a discussion topic to studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.com

Visit the podcast website at https://www.studiotalkpodcast.net/

Share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues.

References: 

https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/workplace-health/mental-health/index.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642

https://nationalfund.org/great-american-walkout/

https://www.betterup.com/blog/work-life-balance

https://www.mhanational.org/work-life-balance

Mental Health Resources:

https://www.thex-studio.org/resources

Studio Talk contact: studiotalkmentalhealth@gmail.com

Learn more about our co-hosts: 

Xiomara A. Sosa https://www.swmhs.net/

Victoria Lockridge https://www.wildvioletcounseling.com/

Lisa Early https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lisa-a-early-summerville-sc/1044400

The Studio Talk podcast and the information provided by Xiomara A. Sosa, Victoria Lockridge and Lisa Early are solely intended for educational and social change advocacy purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although they are licensed mental health counselors, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician or appropriate mental health provider before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.

Copyright XAS Consulting, LLC DBA Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health

PLEASE READ: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room. If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.