Better Think Tanking #5
The ongoing pandemic during the cold and dark season is challenging our mental wellbeing. Long gone is the energy to make the best of the situation. On some days, the goal is as simple as getting through. And that’s okay.
As the pandemic (re-)surfaces mental health issues, we are using this opportunity to talk about mental health and the workplace this month. To what extent you openly address the issue at work is a highly personal (and often tough!) decision. Think tanks may be among the more open-minded places to voice concerns and accommodate needs. But let’s not kid ourselves: There’s still tons of awareness-raising and explaining to do.
Opening up About Mental Health at Work
“Being kind to yourself and taking care of your emotional well-being (…) is not only not selfish, it is your job. Because if you do not take care of yourself, somebody else has to. If you do not make an effort with your mental health, you will have to make an effort with your mental illness. In times of crisis, being kind is essential; to each other, yes, but also never forgetting to be kind to yourself.“
Our newsletter colleagues at pointer.io shared this useful piece in which Sophie Küster shares her experiences with addressing her depression and anxiety disorder at work. Some lessons:
Opening up and asking for help is no sign of weakness but of you taking care of yourself. It’s not only in your interest but also your employer’s.
Think you are a burden to others? First, that is very likely a symptom of your condition. Second, most people like helping others; it even sets free endorphins. So, don’t shy away from asking for help.
We are still far from destigmatizing mental illnesses. Opening up risks you receiving some insensitive comments (which sucks because those will stay in your head rent-free much longer than all the supportive ones). Try to accept that some people simply don’t get it.
Male Mental Health
Men tend to open up less than women about mental health issues and few seek psychological help. This does obviously not mean they suffer less, so it‘s vital that men like Chris Hayward publicly talk about their stories. In this podcast episode, he explains how a bad injury led to serious deterioration of his mental health, how he communicated this to his friends and family, and how he took a break from work in the middle of a successful career.
German: Seelische Gesundheit am Arbeitsplatz
Im Deep Shit Talks Podcast widmen sich zwei Therapeutinnen der seelischen Gesundheit am Arbeitsplatz.
Tipps für Betroffene: Verstehe die eigenen Bedürfnissse und Grenzen. Entscheidest du dich, den:die Arbeitgeber:in zu informieren, dann überlege vorher, wie viel du preisgeben möchtest und was du brauchst. Du musst deine Diagnose nicht bennenen! Kommst du morgens schlecht aus dem Bett, hilft vielleicht ein früher Termin als Anreiz.
Tipps für Arbeitgeber:innen: Rechtlich geht dich der Gesundheitszustand deiner Mitarbeiter:innen nichts an. Hast du aber Sorge, dann biete Hilfe an und frage nach den Bedürfnissen. Wichtig: Es darf auch Grenzen bei Zugeständnissen geben, z.B. wenn Betroffene Teamarbeit ablehnen, die aber Teil des Jobs ist.
Für beide Seiten: Trefft ihr sichtbare Regelungen, dann überlegt gemeinsam, was dem Rest des Teams kommuniziert wird, ohne zu viel preiszugeben - auch um zu verhindern, dass Betroffenen vorgeworfen wird, eine Extrawurst zu bekommen.
Toxic Productivity
Productivity is great: You get a dopamine rush every time you send one more email or schedule a meeting and check the task off our to-do list. The more you do, the more praise you get - but the risk is that you’re stretching yourself thin. Addiction to toxic productivity is a real risk.
It took Celeste Headlee until her forties to realize that this behavior doesn’t make her happier or healthier. In fact, research shows that seemingly purposeless activities can be the most important to your mind.
“Those long walks and hours pursuing hobbies breed deep reflection and creativity. And midafternoon naps? They’re cognitive gold […] They improve alertness, help consolidate information you learned earlier, and help with emotional regulation”
A 2015 survey at a UK company found that employees only accomplish about 3 hours of focused work per day. It may be time to embrace this, as there’s increasing evidence that working much less each day and relaxing far more may be the secret to productivity (quality instead of quantity!). Don’t confuse being active 24/7 with doing purposeful work. Learn to say no, prioritize, and recruit others to help you.
Think Tank Utopia
What does your dream think tank look like? A few weeks ago, Anne and Elisabeth of the German Marshall Fund invited us to talk about BTT and dream up our think tank utopia with GMF’s Young Transatlantic Network members. Take a sneak peek at the brainstorming results:
Exciting to meet many who share our desires to discuss (often strikingly similar) think tank work experience and push the sector to be better. Just the motivation we need to keep going and build alliances!
What We Are Thinking About
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Stay healthy and be kind to each other,
Theresa & Sarah
Need Emergency Support?
In Deutschland findest du Hilfe bei der Telefonseelsorge oder dem Info-Telefon Depression. In the UK and many EU countries, you can call the emotional support line 116 123. Counseling hotlines are also available in the US and other countries.