Feelings Matter Michelle Stinson Ross

Now, more than ever, a supportive environment for mental health is essential. As we strive to create a workplace environment in which everyone can talk more openly and proactively about mental health, most people struggle with how best to respond when they are concerned about a colleague.

Episode Highlights
- Dealing with the power dynamic with leadership
- "Psychological safety is not relaxing your standards, feeling comfortable, being nice and agreeable, or giving unconditional praise. Psychological safety is a culture of respect, trust, and openness where it's not risky to raise ideas and concerns" Amy Edmonson
- Listening and creating psychological safety
-- ask open questions
-- Summarize what they said and repeat it back to them.
-- Reflect: repeat a word or phrase back to them
-- Clarify: Tell me more about that...
-- Give words of encouragement: "Go on" or "I see"
-- Affirm and acknowledge and then share resources

Episode Resources
- How to support mental health at work - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-support-mental-health-work
- How to Support Your Coworker Who’s Dealing With Mental Health Issues - https://www.payscale.com/career-advice/how-to-support-your-coworker-whos-dealing-with-mental-health-issues/

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

Now, more than ever, a supportive environment for mental health is essential. As we strive to create a workplace environment in which everyone can talk more openly and proactively about mental health, most people struggle with how best to respond when they are concerned about a colleague.

Episode Highlights
- Check-in with your colleagues
- Ask open ended questions and pose them as “I” questions
-- I noticed that things aren’t okay lately
-- I care about you and I’d like to make time to chat
- Make time to create enough space for a difficult conversation
- Be prepared to be uncomfortable and be ready with empathy

Episode Resources
- How to support mental health at work - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-support-mental-health-work
- How to Support Your Coworker Who’s Dealing With Mental Health Issues - https://www.payscale.com/career-advice/how-to-support-your-coworker-whos-dealing-with-mental-health-issues/

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

A recent study confirmed that Americans are exercising less and sitting more during the pandemic. It may seem like no big deal, but the pandemic has impacted everyone's mental health as well. So, it's important to recognize the important and positive link between mental health and exercise. Studies have shown that exercise can be a great tool for improving common mental health issues.

Episode Highlights
Exercise enhances concentration, mood, energy and motivation with neurochemical changes that increase:
- BDNF (Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor)-the brain’s own “Miracle Gro”
- Dopamine-which helps motivate you
- Serotonin-which boosts your mood
- Noradrenaline-which stimulates your energy
- New connections between nerve cells and neurons
Exercise:
- Boosts memory
- Increases concentration
- Improves mental health
- Enhances creativity
- Slows cognitive decline
- Improves circulation
- Aids learning and memory
- Builds more brain cells
- Prevents disease

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

Moving into post-pandemic operations is still creating a wave of stress and anxiety in our homes and community. It's important for workplace teams to recognize how stress manifests itself and adopt strategies and practices that can help them navigate stress in the healthiest way possible.


Episode Highlights
- Watch out for the negative coping strategies
- Good hydration, good sleep, exercise are important
- It’s important to complete the stress cycle
-- Stressor: anything perceived as threatening and activates the stress cycle
-- Action: to complete the cycle & release stress chemicals, must engage in action
-- Relief: once stress chemicals released, your body relaxes and feels safe again
- Activities that complete the stress cycle:
-- crying, laughing, walking, deep breathing
-- hugs and affection from a partner, family member, or pet


Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

Moving into post-pandemic operations is still creating a wave of stress and anxiety in our homes and community. It's important for workplace teams to recognize how stress manifests itself and adopt strategies and practices that can help them navigate stress in the healthiest way possible.


Episode Highlights
-91 percent of respondents say having an unmanageable amount of stress or frustration negatively impacts the quality of their work
- 83 percent of respondents say burnout from work can negatively impact their personal relationships.
-87 percent of professionals surveyed say they have passion for their current job but 64 percent say they are frequently stressed, dispelling the myth that passionate employees are immune to stress or burnout.
-Nearly 70 percent of professionals feel their employers are not doing enough to prevent or alleviate burnout within their organization.
-21 percent of respondents say their company does not offer any programs or initiatives to prevent or alleviate burnout.
-One in four professionals say they never or rarely take all of their vacation days.
-84 percent of millennials say they have experienced burnout at their current job, compared to 77 percent of all respondents.
-Nearly half of millennials say they have left a job specifically because they felt burned out, compared to 42 percent of all respondent


Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

In this episode we explore what it means to show empathy and how a few simple actions can help create stronger connections and build a culture of honesty and openness. These are important factors for nurturing a more productive and healthier workplace as we navigate the challenges of an uncertain time.

Episode Highlights
- 83% of employees would choose a workplace with a healthy culture over higher salary
- We need to reframe empathy as the action of listening
- We can make assumptions about team dynamics, but we don’t know until we ask the question and listen.
- The biggest barrier to empathy in the workplace is being too busy. We are not empathetic when we are in a hurry.
- Accountability is necessary to successfully implement workplace empathy.

Episode Resource
Brené Brown on Empathy - Empathy is feeling with another person https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835