Podcast Summary
California's New Wellness Coaches to Help Improve Mental Health: California is training new wellness coaches to improve mental health and California's wellness coach program can provide insights on happiness and well-being in the rapidly evolving workplaces.
The future of work is presenting unique challenges to our mental health and well-being. With the rise of technology, remote work, and economic instability, many people are feeling more burned out and anxious than ever before. However, there is hope. California is building a new workforce of certified wellness coaches to help young people improve their mental health and lead happier, healthier lives. Additionally, understanding the science behind happiness and well-being can help us navigate these changes and thrive in our rapidly evolving workplaces. For more information on California's wellness coach program, visit cawellnesscoach.org. And for insights on the psychology and economics of our decisions, tune in to Choiceology, an original podcast from Charles Schwab.
The Impact of Happiness on Workplace Performance: Research shows that happiness boosts productivity, job satisfaction, and overall performance. Cheerfulness in young adults can predict future career success, and happy employees excel in creativity and problem-solving.
The science of happiness and mental health should be a top priority in the workplace of the future. According to research, happiness significantly impacts productivity, job satisfaction, and overall performance. For instance, a study by Ed Diener at the University of Virginia found that cheerfulness in young adults at age 18 can predict job acquisition and salary later in life. Furthermore, happy employees perform better in various aspects of their jobs, including creativity and problem-solving. A study on medical doctors demonstrated that being in a good mood enhances their ability to think creatively and solve complex medical issues. Therefore, prioritizing employee happiness and mental health in the workplace could lead to better performance, job satisfaction, and long-term success.
Employee happiness linked to company profits: Research shows happier employees lead to increased profits for companies, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing employee well-being.
Happiness at work not only improves individual productivity but also significantly contributes to a company's profits. A recent working paper by researchers at the University of Oxford and Indeed revealed a strong correlation between employee happiness and a company's gross profits. The researchers analyzed over 50 million data points across thousands of companies and found that happier workers led to increased profits. This discovery has caught the attention of C-suite executives, as they now recognize the financial implications of employee happiness. The researchers even suggested creating a new economic index based on the happiest companies, which consistently outperformed other indicators of economic success. This study underscores the importance of prioritizing employee happiness and well-being in the workplace.
Suppressing negative emotions harms performance and well-being: Acknowledging and addressing negative emotions can lead to improved performance and overall well-being.
Ignoring negative emotions at work and suppressing them doesn't lead to better performance or well-being. Instead, we should view negative emotions as signals and use them wisely. According to research, suppressing emotions negatively impacts memory, decision-making, and even our physical health. Acknowledging and addressing negative emotions can lead to improved performance and overall well-being. It's essential for businesses to prioritize employee well-being, including addressing negative emotions in the workplace, for both ethical and capitalistic reasons. By adopting a new perspective on negative emotions, we can create happier, more productive workplaces.
Recognize, Allow, Investigate, and Nurture Negative Emotions: Recognize negative emotions as important signals, allow them to be, investigate their source and feelings in the body, and nurture yourself to manage them, reducing burnout and improving well-being.
Negative emotions are important signals that need our attention. They're like warning lights telling us to take care of ourselves. Instead of ignoring or suppressing them, we should recognize, allow, investigate, and nurture them using practices like Tara Brach's RAIN method. Recognize the emotion, allow it to be there without judgment, investigate how it feels in the body, and nurture yourself by taking care of your needs. Practicing this approach not only helps us manage negative emotions but also reduces burnout and improves well-being. As Rumi said, "The quieter you become, the more you can hear." So, let's listen to our emotions and respond with kindness and compassion towards ourselves.
Understanding the misconceptions of time famine: Recognize the belief that long hours equal productivity and shift towards prioritizing time affluence for better well-being.
To improve productivity and well-being, it's essential to recognize and address negative emotions and shift our mindset regarding time. Many of us feel time-starved, leading to stress and decreased well-being, similar to being unemployed. This mindset stems from believing that working long hours is necessary for success. However, productivity in knowledge work is not as easily measurable as in industries like agriculture or manufacturing. Instead, we fill our days with activities that appear productive but may not be our most effective work hours. To break free from this cycle, it's crucial to understand the misconceptions driving our time famine and explore alternative methods for measuring and increasing productivity while prioritizing time affluence for better well-being.
Protecting Time for Deep Work: Embrace time affluence by limiting distractions, saying no to non-essential tasks, and focusing on valuable commitments to increase productivity and happiness.
Constant distractions and non-essential tasks can make us feel productive but ultimately hinder our ability to do deep, meaningful work. These distractions, referred to as "productivity termites," can consume our time and leave us feeling time-starved. To combat this, we need to embrace the concept of time affluence by actively protecting our time and prioritizing deep work. Strategies include limiting email and Slack use, saying no to non-essential tasks, and spending money to save time. By doing so, we can increase our overall productivity and happiness. The "no yay effect," as suggested by psychologist Gal Zuberman, can help us manage our commitments and protect our time effectively. Additionally, research suggests that focusing on time as a valuable resource, similar to money, can lead to greater happiness. So, next time you're considering taking on an extra task or committing to a meeting, consider the long-term impact on your time affluence and prioritize accordingly.
Embrace a slower form of productivity: Invest time in self-care or productive tasks instead of wasting it, shift mindset towards self-compassion for better productivity
Instead of wasting our time in small chunks, known as "time confetti," we should invest in them by adding self-care practices or productive tasks. Productivity is not just about being visibly busy, but embracing a slower form of productivity that allows us to say no to distractions and yes to what truly matters. To effectively protect our time and work better, we need to shift our mindset towards self-compassion, which involves recognizing negative emotions, acknowledging common humanity, and being kind to ourselves. By motivating ourselves with self-compassion, we can reduce self-criticism, procrastination, and the constant need to push ourselves beyond our limits.
Practicing Self-Compassion: Talk Kindly to Yourself: Self-compassion reduces negative emotions, improves mental health, and makes it easier to be compassionate towards others. Practice through compassionate self-touch and focusing on mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness.
Practicing self-compassion involves talking to yourself in a kind and understanding way, just as you would to a friend. This approach, which research suggests is effective, can help reduce negative emotions, improve mental health, and even make it easier to be compassionate towards others. A simple yet effective way to practice self-compassion is through compassionate self-touch, such as a gentle hug or stroke on the arm. By focusing on mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness, you can motivate yourself with self-compassion rather than self-criticism, leading to increased flourishing and reduced risk of burnout. Additionally, certified wellness coaches can play a crucial role in supporting children and youth in building vital skills to improve their mental health and well-being, especially during challenging times.
Apple Card, LinkedIn Jobs, Airbnb Hosting, and Burnout Solutions: Apple Card offers daily cash rewards, LinkedIn Jobs helps small businesses find talent, Airbnb hosting provides income and travel experiences, and addressing burnout involves aligning job values with experiences.
Apple Card offers daily cash rewards of up to 3% on purchases, making it an ideal cashback credit card. Meanwhile, Apple's hiring platform, LinkedIn Jobs, helps small businesses find high-quality professionals more efficiently, even those not actively seeking new roles. Additionally, Airbnb hosting can provide extra income and a sense of home while traveling. Regarding burnout, research indicates that it's not just about emotional exhaustion but also a values mismatch between the job we signed up for and the reality we experience. For instance, in healthcare, the focus on saving money might clash with a nurse or doctor's office values of helping people. To combat burnout, it's crucial to ensure our job values align with our professional experiences.
Identifying and incorporating signature strengths into daily tasks: Engaging in signature strengths at work can lead to increased connection, fulfillment, and protection from burnout.
We can all find ways to make our jobs more meaningful and fulfilling by identifying and incorporating our signature strengths into our daily tasks. This concept, known as job crafting, has been studied extensively by researchers like Amy Wrzesnitsky and Marty Seligman. They've found that engaging in our signature strengths, whether it's humor, creativity, or citizenship, can help us feel more connected to our work and even protect us from burnout. This doesn't necessarily mean we need to change our job descriptions or find new jobs altogether. Instead, it's about finding flexibility within our current roles to infuse our values and strengths in ways that resonate with us. As Wrzesnitsky's research shows, even jobs that seem mundane or uninspiring, like hospital janitorial work, can become calling when we tap into our signature strengths. So, the next time you're feeling disconnected from your work, try identifying your signature strengths and exploring how you can bring them into your daily tasks. It might just be the key to turning your job into a calling.
Feeling a sense of belonging at work is crucial for happiness and job satisfaction: Building friendships and prioritizing social connections at work can lead to greater engagement, happiness, and overall well-being.
According to scientific research, finding a sense of belonging at work is crucial for happiness and job satisfaction. Economists may focus on factors like money, good management, and work-life balance, but the data from a large-scale study by Indeed reveals that a strong sense of belonging, which includes feeling cared for, knowing that your work matters, and having a best friend at work, is the most significant predictor of happiness at work. It's a common misconception that social connections don't matter in the office, but the data suggests otherwise. To overcome this misconception and develop meaningful relationships at work, consider the advice from business professional Shasta Nelson, who emphasizes the importance of making intentional efforts to build friendships. By prioritizing social connections, we may find greater engagement and overall well-being in our jobs.
Building Meaningful Friendships at Work: Increase positive interactions, cultivate consistency, and embrace vulnerability to build meaningful friendships at work, enhancing happiness and performance.
Creating meaningful friendships at work can significantly enhance our happiness and performance. According to Shasta Nelson, author of "Friendships at Work," this can be achieved through three key strategies: increasing positive interactions, cultivating consistency in relationships, and embracing vulnerability. By focusing on these areas, we can move beyond the notion that friendships only happen outside of work and instead engage in a sense of belonging that benefits both individuals and organizations. Additionally, it's essential to recognize that workplace wellness programs that focus solely on individual strategies may not be as effective as those that address the importance of social connections and emotional well-being.
Acknowledge and address negative emotions in workplace well-being programs: Effective programs recognize and address employees' negative emotions, fostering a supportive environment for open dialogue and growth.
Workplace well-being programs need to acknowledge and address employees' negative emotions instead of suppressing them. This approach aligns with the latest scientific findings and can lead to more effective programs. Regarding the transition to generative AI, it's essential for leaders to acknowledge and validate employees' fears and emotions, creating a safe space for open dialogue and working through these feelings together. Lastly, forming friendships at work doesn't require participation in office gossip and pettiness. Instead, it involves having positive, consistent interactions with colleagues, asking for help, and being vulnerable.
Promoting mental health and belonging in the workplace: Start small to build connections, present data to senior management, collaborate with academics, and prioritize mental health for business success.
Promoting mental health and creating a sense of belonging in the workplace can lead to significant benefits, including increased productivity and better overall well-being. However, for those who feel uncomfortable initiating these conversations, the advice is to start small and gradually build connections with colleagues. As for communicating the importance of mental health initiatives to senior management, presenting data and research, such as the Indeed Workplace Study, can help make a compelling case. Additionally, collaborations between academics and companies can lead to valuable insights and interventions that benefit both parties. While much of the research in this area is correlational, randomized controlled trials in the workplace can help establish causal relationships. Overall, prioritizing mental health and belonging in the workplace is not just a nice-to-have, but a need-to-have for businesses looking to thrive.
Exploring Mental Health and Wellness for Young People and Small Businesses: Investing in mental health resources like wellness coaches and visiting destinations that promote relaxation can lead to improved overall well-being and happiness for young people and small businesses. LinkedIn Jobs is a free and effective tool for small businesses to find quality professionals for their team.
Mental health and wellness are crucial components of happiness and overall well-being, especially for young people. Dr. Laurie Santos is creating a podcast season focused on things she's bad at, including boredom. Meanwhile, California is addressing the mental health struggles of nearly half its youth by training wellness coaches to help children and youth build essential skills for improved mental health. When it comes to hiring for small businesses, LinkedIn Jobs is an essential tool to find quality professionals efficiently and for free. LinkedIn not only functions as a job board but also helps businesses hire professionals who may not be actively seeking new roles. With over 70% of LinkedIn users not visiting other leading job sites, posting your job for free on LinkedIn could help you find the right candidate within 24 hours. Science suggests that physical health and mental wellness are essential keys to happiness. San Diego, with its sunny weather, beautiful scenery, and welcoming atmosphere, offers an ideal environment for rest, recharging, and returning home feeling reinvigorated. By investing in mental health resources like wellness coaches and visiting destinations like San Diego, we can prioritize our overall well-being and happiness.
