Louise Johnson’s Post

From Stress to Strength: Fostering Mental Health in the Workplace It's Workplace Mental Health Day! 🧠✨ In every job or business, we hit those moments where the pressure to perform or meet targets can feel overwhelming. Stress is inevitable, but it’s our perception of these stressors that determines their long-term impact on our mental health. Challenge vs. Hindrance Perception The Power of Mindset Do you see stress as a challenge or a hindrance? Those who adopt a stress-is-enhancing mindset view stress as an opportunity for growth. They approach stressors proactively, seeking solutions and personal advancement. On the flip side, a stress-is-debilitating mindset can turn stress into an overwhelming obstacle, leading to avoidance and a negative focus. Assessing Your Perspective Our perception shapes our experience. The cognitive appraisal process allows us to evaluate whether a stressor is a threat (hindrance) or a challenge (opportunity). Cultivating a positive stress mindset can help us assess stressful situations more optimistically. Impact on Mental Health Anxiety and Depression: Viewing stress as a hindrance often correlates with higher anxiety and depression levels. In contrast, seeing stress as a challenge can foster a sense of control, protecting against these mental health issues. Resilience and Coping: A challenge-oriented mindset enhances resilience and encourages adaptive coping strategies, like problem-solving and seeking support. On the other hand, a hindrance mindset can lead to avoidance and denial, undermining our mental health. Performance and Engagement: Research shows that a positive stress mindset boosts performance and engagement. When stress is viewed as a challenge, we’re more motivated and focused. Conversely, seeing stress as a hindrance can lead to disengagement and reduced effort. Key Points: 📍 Understand Your Stress Triggers: Recognise what stresses you out and distinguish between challenges and hindrances. 📍 Embrace a Positive Stress Mindset: View stressors as opportunities for growth. 📍 Harness the Role of Cognitive Appraisal: Your perception influences your emotional and psychological responses. Let’s take this Workplace Mental Health Day as a reminder to shift our mindset, embrace challenges, and support one another. Together, we can create a healthier, more resilient workplace! 💪💼 #WorkplaceMentalHealth #StressManagement #MentalHealthAwareness #Resilience #EmployeeWellbeing #GrowthMindset #Leadership #WorkplaceWellness Rooting for your success Vinuyon Ramos The Change Catalyst

Do you recognize these early signs of burnout?? 👎  ultra cynical or critical 🏁 trouble getting started 😤 irritability and impatience 🪫 low energy for work 🧠 trouble concentrating 🏅not satisfied with achievements Do any of these sound like you? As an entrepreneur, the summer months can be both a blessing and a curse. The longer days and warmer weather create opportunities to get out from behind your desk and recharge. But the temptation to work around the clock in pursuit of your goals can also lead to burnout fast. Here are 5 tips to help you avoid burnout this summer: 1️⃣ Set Boundaries. Reflect on what you can handle and what caused previous burnouts. Everyone wins when you hold healthy boundaries. 2️⃣ Plan intentionally. Time management is a key component of accomplishing more in shorter amounts of time. Don't plan out everything, focused on those growth drivers and let the rest follow. 3️⃣ Stress Management. Have a list of activities that help you relax or have fun. Schedule at least one every day. 4️⃣ Stay Healthy. Staying physically and mentally healthy is vital to avoiding burnout. Give your body what it needs… the nutrients, water, and sleep it's begging for. 5️⃣ Treat Yourself. Having something relaxing or special to look forward to will help keep you motivated. You can stick to the plan while allowing yourself to enjoy the downtime you planned for. ‼️Bonus Tip… Add an accountability coach to the mix! Achieve your goals faster and more often with real human support from a dedicated 1:1 coach who wants to see you win. Burnout can have a major impact on your work performance, mental health, and overall wellbeing. By recognizing the early warning signs and taking proactive steps like setting boundaries, managing your time and stress, and prioritizing self-care, you can get ahead of burnout before it takes a serious toll. Implement these tips consistently, and don't be afraid to seek support from a coach (us!) or trusted colleagues. With the right strategies in place, you can avoid burnout and maintain a healthy, sustainable pace all summer long.

Day 1 - Mental Health Awareness Week: Burnout. We've all felt stressed or overwhelmed at times, but burnout is on another level. It's a state of complete physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress. The signs? • Lack of motivation and energy • Feeling cynical or detached from your work • A sense that you're ineffective no matter how much you do • Dreading waking up for work every morning Burnout doesn't just impact your work performance and productivity. It can take a toll on your personal relationships and physical health. In the relentless hustle culture we live in, burnout has become far too common. According to Mental Health UK, 1 in 5 workers (20%) in the UK needed to take time off work due to poor mental health caused by pressure or stress in the past year. It's crucial to stop burnout before it derails your career and wellbeing. But how can you prevent and recover from burnout? • Set clear boundaries between work and personal life • Prioritise self-care, activities you enjoy and sleep • Seek out a support system in friends, family or a therapist • Consider a break or job change if burnout persists Burnout is not something to power through - that will only make it worse. Listen to your mind and body. Prioritising your wellbeing first is what allows you to sustainably thrive in your career. P.S. Important to note that research shows working hard is not what leads to burnout. Doing too many things that drain your energy and a lack of purpose do.

Have you heard of Burnout's Insidious cousin, Rust Out? Burnout is bad news, but most of us can already identify it (and some of us even actively avoid it). According to batonrougeclinic.com, "Work burnout is a reaction to constant stressors at work that cause you to feel emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted & unhappy. Burnout may make you less productive, give you a reduced sense of accomplishment & even make you feel a loss of personal identity." Burnout sucks - No matter how you spin it. And while a lot of times we figuratively find ourselves running high-speed straight into the "wall" that it is, Rust Out is more like a slow walk towards the wall, with your head down, staring at your feet, until you find yourself at the foot of the wall, wondering how you got there, then looking around to realize you have no sense of direction in where to go next, and maybe even no motivation to figure that next piece out. While Burnout is something we know we need to heal from, Rust Out is even more dangerous because we can find ourselves feeling confused about the circumstances, thinking there must be something wrong with us (and not with the environment), and gaslight ourselves into repeating more of the unstimulating acts that got us where we are in the first place, while bending over backwards to "make it work" (not realizing that we're robbing ourselves of our self-respect and purpose in doing so). We get SO comfortable in the familiar, that until something shakes us by the shoulders and demands that we "wake up", we might keep engaging in behaviors that may as well be called sleep-walking through life, personally and professionally. All in the name of..... safety? Want to learn more about things like burnout, Rust Out, and midlife unraveling (midlife crisis' more empowered cousin)? That's my jam - highlighting the things we navigate, the language that describes it, and the understanding that empowers us AND others. And whether it's the words, the insight, or the "permission to be human", you'll find it all in my blog, here: https://lnkd.in/gWg7GYdZ If you want to take it one step further and figure out how to get on the other side of these things (burnout, midlife crisis, Rust Out, or simply the pains of going first and trying to figure it all out), let's get something on the calendar. No expectations. If nothing else you'll discover there's someone in your corner, cheering you on, believing in you, and helping you figure out the messy parts of life, while helping you curate a grounded confidence and sense of self that will have others wondering how the hell you "did that". Whether you reach out or not, I'm rooting for you. Try to remember to root for yourself, okay? https://lnkd.in/gKsgy2ez

The Power Of Burnout Let’s talk about something that doesn’t often get the spotlight in today's culture of high achievement and fast success, especially in the corporate world. You would think, by now, it would be very acceptable to talk openly about burnout but if it is, it's rarely understood. Many people, especially in the corporate world, think that burnout is about being weak and vulnerable. The truth is very different.   You don't hit burnout at the first little upset or challenge. Nor the second or third or fourth or fifth;  burnout happens at the end of a long road, along which your resilience or stamina or emotional wellbeing is so severely tested that you reach a point when you or your body says "Enough, I can't do this anymore". You have no more capacity to adapt, whether that's physically, like an overworked athlete; or mentally and emotionally like Jim, a client of mine, a CEO, who had lost all interest in his business, was struggling to keep his home life together and whose health had rapidly deteriorated over the last 6 months. Unfortunately, by the time you've reached the point of 'enough', there are a lot of physical systems that don't function as they should.  Perhaps you wake up exhausted and no amount of sleep re-charges your batteries; or you put on weight and nothing you do to shift it works; or maybe your digestive system is no longer working properly and you end up with IBS. At the point of 'enough', you're emotionally and mentally drained of energy; you've lost connection with your partner, your kids, your parents and probably your friends.  I've hit burnout twice so this post comes from personal experience as well as wearing my professional hat working with burnout. Physical health and mental health are not two separate systems! Though people often think they are. So the road back from burnout therefore requires time; time to assess what went wrong, time to rebuild your reserves and resilience, time to decide how you want to live your life after this 'wake-up' call. Because for many people, burnout is indeed, a wake-up call. It's a powerful catalyst for change. For some, it turns out to be 'a blessing in disguise'. They leave their job of 30 years and follow their deep desire to live a different life - move to Thailand, go to art school, set up their own business, become a yoga teacher, see the Grand Canyon, ride horses in Montana. Without the trauma of hitting burnout, what would you [secretly] love to do? I'll share first - I would love to go to Montana and see the wide, open spaces from the saddle of a very safe, reliable horse. Now your turn to share - what would you love to do without a wake up call to change your life? #changeyourlife #burnout #powerofburnout #lifechanges #success #driventosuceed #healthandwealth #meaningsmatter #healthmatters #chooseyourlife #choiceshaveconsequences Image: Taylor Brandon/Unsplash

Well- being Burnout Recovery strategies from my friends at Center for Compassionate Leadership. And check out more strategies in a white paper by Christy Mihina I posted before, Christy I know you’ll want to see this if you haven’t already! #WellBeingisCritical #BurnoutRecovery #SelfCompasssionPractices

As Mental Health Month encourages us to reflect on our well-being, it’s essential to highlight an issue that impacts many across different professions: workplace burnout. Burnout doesn't occur suddenly—it develops over time due to prolonged stress, unmanageable workloads, lack of support, and emotional exhaustion. Recognizing the signs of burnout early is crucial. Common symptoms include: Chronic fatigue: Feeling physically and emotionally drained, even after rest. Cynicism or detachment: Developing a negative outlook towards work and colleagues. Reduced performance: Decreased productivity, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of incompetence. Emotional exhaustion: Feeling overwhelmed by small tasks, often leading to irritability and mood swings. Burnout is more than just “feeling tired.” If left unchecked, it can evolve into serious mental health challenges and can affect all areas of life—relationships, physical health, and overall quality of life. Key ways to manage burnout: Set Healthy Boundaries: Setting boundaries is key to protecting your emotional and mental well-being. Prioritize Self-Care: Self-care isn’t indulgent; it’s vital. Engaging in regular activities like mindfulness, exercise, or taking breaks can help recharge both mind and body. Seek Support: Whether it’s speaking to a therapist, manager, or colleague, sharing your concerns can make a significant difference. Reassess Workload: Many employers now understand the importance of mental well-being, making advocacy for a balanced workload essential. Engage in Professional Development: Pursuing new skills or interests can reignite passion and purpose. As counsellors, we frequently encounter clients dealing with workplace burnout as part of their life stress. While we focus on helping individuals develop coping strategies, it's equally important to explore the root causes of their burnout. Fostering balance, building resilience, and knowing when to seek help are critical for recovery. If you notice signs of burnout in yourself or others, remember that seeking support is a vital first step. Your mental health matters just as much as your work—nurture both. #burnoutprevention #mentalwellbeing

Are you feeling tired all the time, struggling with sleep, or experiencing frequent headaches and muscle pain? These physical symptoms could be signs of burnout. Alongside forgetfulness, frustration, and trouble concentrating, burnout can have a significant impact on your work and personal life. It's crucial to identify and address the root causes of burnout to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Here are some tips to help you navigate through burnout: 📌Identify your stressors: Understand what aspects are contributing to your burnout and consider making short-term changes to improve the situation. 📌Communicate your needs at work: Have open conversations with your manager to address workload or challenges that may be contributing to burnout. 📌Create a burnout recovery plan: Develop a plan outlining steps you can take to recover from burnout and prevent it in the future. 📌Take steps toward recovery: Implement daily practices like organizing your workspace, taking mental breaks, and setting boundaries to help manage and prevent burnout. 📌Prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries can make a significant difference in combating burnout and maintaining overall well-being. Remember, your health and happiness are essential for long-term success. #BurnoutRecovery #WorkLifeBalance #SelfCare Reference: https://lnkd.in/dsHQjT_P

#MentalHealthMonday: "Work-life balance is a tricky line to tread—especially in today's age of midnight emails and working from home—but it is possible. The recovery process can be lengthy, involving a lot of self-care, rest, and reflection, but on the other side of burnout, regaining peace and joy in your life is well worth it." In this mindbodygreen.com article, Sarah Regan cites self-compassion experts like Dr. Kristin Neff, lists signs that indicate you may be experiencing burnout, and provides recommendations for recovery: https://lnkd.in/gs_Vpbf3 #burnout #compassionaterecovery #selfcompassion #worklifebalance

BURNOUT & MENTAL HEALTH DEFICITS ARE ON THE RISE! PLEASE START MAKING CHANGES TODAY!!!! According to a recent article in Forbes magazine, Burnout, often referred to as the silent epidemic, is both a people killer and a career killer. In 2022, it was on the rise globally with 43% of employees reporting burnout. And it continued to rise in 2023 when a staggering 62% of employees said they hit the wall from Burnout. The World Health Organization officially classified Burnout as a medical diagnosis, including the condition in the International Classification of Diseases: “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” WOW!!! Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwork, often resulting in a diminished sense of accomplishment and detachment from work or other life activities. It manifests through symptoms such as chronic fatigue, insomnia, irritability, and a lack of motivation. This condition can severely impact one's professional performance and personal life, leading to decreased productivity, strained relationships, and even serious health problems both mentally like depression and physically in cardiovascular disease among others. Addressing Burnout is crucial because it not only affects individual well-being but also organisational effectiveness and societal health. Maintaining both physical and mental health is essential in preventing and mitigating Burnout. Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep (8 hours+) are foundational to physical health, providing the energy and resilience needed to cope with daily challenges. Equally important is mental health, which can be nurtured through mindfulness practices, stress management techniques like deep and intentional breathing (Breathwork), and also seeking support when needed from family or close friends. BUT PLEASE SPEAK UP AND TELL SOMEBODY HOW YOU ARE FEELING AND WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH! We don't do this enough, especially men! Seek to create a better balance between work and personal life, setting REALISTIC goals, and fostering positive social connections are also vital strategies. In the comments section I've attached the Forbes article for anyone wanting to review further LOOK AFTER YOURSELVES! YOU'RE NO GOOD TO ANYONE IF YOU AREN'T WHOLE! #Oaktreeleadershiptips #Strategyjobsaustralia #Furturestateconsulting #interimexecstrategyjobsaustralia